The JR Chess Report (December 19): World women's Championship Finals and Russian Superfinal

[Jack Rabbit]

Hou and Ruan Face Off for Women's Title

Sixteen-year-old Hou Yifan and WGM Ruan Lufei, both of China, will meet starting tomorrow in a four-game match that concludes the knock out event to determine the new world women's champion in Antakya (Antioch), Turkey.

Despite her youth, it is the second time Ms. Hou has reached the final round of the world women's championship. Two years ago in Nalchik, Russia, Ms. Hou played in the final round and lost to Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia. Ms. Hou reached that pinnacle by defeating the same lady in the semifinal round she defeated Friday, Koneru Humpy of India, the second-ranked woman in the world.

Ms. Ruan is the 21st-ranked woman in the world and a member of the powerful Chinese women's team that includes Ms. Hou and Zhao Xue, the play Ms. Ruan vanquished in the semifinal round. Ms. Ruan won outright none of the five two-game mini-matches she has played in the event up to now, but has won each in rapid and blitz play. Today (Sunday), the scheduled rest day prior to the start of the final round, is Ms. Ruan's first day off since the tournament began two weeks ago.

Ms. Hou is the heavy favorite to win the final match.

The four-game match will be followed by a day of rapid and blitz play if necessary. The event is scheduled to conclude Friday, Christmas Eve. Games will be broadcast live on the official tournament website beginning at 3 pm local time (5 am PST).


Svidler, Karjakin Lead Superfinal after 8

Five-time Russian national champion Peter Svidler and newly-minted Russian Sergey Karjakin, playing for the Russian title for the first time, are tied for first place at 5½ points apiece after eight rounds in the 2010 Russian National Championship, called the Superfinal by its promoters, which started a week ago in Moscow.

Both players have won three games without a loss. Sergey Alexandrovich moved into the tied with his victory with Black over Igor Kurnosov earlier today. Sergey Alexandrovich and Peter Veniaminovich played each each other to a draw in the fourth round on Tuesday.

The pair are followed by defending champion Alexander Grischuk (+2 -0 =6) and young Ian Nopomniachtchi (+3 -1 =4) at 5 points each.

The eleven-round event is scheduled to conclude Wednesday. Games are broadcast live on the website of the Russian Chess Federation beginning at 3 pm Moscow time (4 am PST).

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

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

BLACK



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


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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. World Women's Championship, Antakya

Antakya (Antioch): the old part of town
Photo by Bernard Gagnon in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Lahno - Hou Yfan, Quarferfinal Round

Hou Yifan
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Katya Lahno - Hou Yifan
Women's World Championship, Quarterfinal Round/Game 1
Antakya, 13 December 2010

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 e6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 d6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qa5 13.Bd2

• For moves and variations up to here, see N. Kosintseva-Bodnaruk, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2009.
• If 13.Qe4 Qa4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Rab1 then:
• If 16...Rb8 17.Rb4 Qc6 then:
• 18.Bd3 Qxe4 19.Bxe4 b6 20.Rd1 gives White stronger pawns and more space (D. Smerdon-McShane, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).
• 18.Qe2 b6 19.Nd4 Qc5 20.Re1 Bb7 21.Bb3 Qxc3 22.Rc4 Qa5 23.Ra4 Qc5 24.Rc4 Qa5 25.Ra4 Qc5 26.Rc4 Qa5 draw (Causo-Jia, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2008).
• 16...Bd7 17.Bd3 Qxe4 18.Bxe4 Bc6 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.c4 Rab8 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.h4 is equal (Mamedyarov-Ramírez, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• 13.Rb1 Rd8 14.Rb5 Qc7 15.Bd3 b6 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Ba6 18.Bxd8 Rxd8 is equal (Sveshnikov-Aagaard, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

13...b6?! (N)

• The search engines have analyzed and the professional analists have rendered their vidict: this move really sucks.
• 13...Rd8 14.Rfe1 Bd7 15.Bb3 Be8 16.Qe4 Rd7 17.Rac1 Rad8 18.Bg5 h6 19.Be3 Ba3 is equal (Godena-Vocaturo, IT 0910, Reggio Emilia, 2009).

14.a4?!

• White misses her chance.
• 14.Bb5! Bb7 15.a3! Rfd8 16.Be1 leaves the Black Queen nowhere to go and might have ended the game early.

14...Qc5 15.Be3

• 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Rfb1 Na5 17.c4 Rac8 18.Rb5 is equal.

15...Qa5 16.Bb5!

• White still has a fair advantage in space.
• 16.Rfb1 Nxe5 17.Rb5 Nxc4 18.Rxa5 Nxa5 is equal.

16...Bb7 17.Qb2 a6 18.Bxc6 Bxc6

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Katya Lahno
Position after 18...Bb7c6:B

19.Qxb6!?

• This gives White an extra pawn, but the Queen exchange solves a lot of Black's problems.
• Better is 19.Bxb6 Qd5 20.Qe2 Qb3 21.Ba5 Bxa4 when:
• 22.Nd4 Bb5 23.Qf3 Qc4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 22.Rfb1 Bb5 23.Qe3 Qc4 gives White a slim edge in space.

19...Qxb6 20.Bxb6 Rfc8

• Somewhat better is 20...Bxf3 when 21.gxf3 Rac8 22.Bd4 Rc4 saddles White with weak pawns on every part of the board.

21.Bd4 Rab8 22.Rfd1 h6 23.Nd2 Bd5

• The text is better than 23...Bg5?! 24.g3! Be7 25.f4 Rd8 26.Kf2 when, dispite appearances, White is not all that weak on the light squares.

24.Rdb1 Bg5 25.Nf1

• The text is better than 25.Nf3!? Bxf3 26.gxf3 when:
• 26...Rd8! 27.Rxb8 Rxb8 28.Be3 Bxe3 29.fxe3 Rb3 is equal.
• less good is 26...f6!? 27.Rxb8 Rxb8 28.Rd1 Rb3 29.exf6 gxf6 30.a5 when Black gets her pawn back, but at the cost of letting White's pieces come to life.

25...Bc6 26.a5 Rxb1

• If 26...Bb5 then after 27.g3 Bd3 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Bb6 Rc8 30.f4 White's pawn chain shuts Black out of the kingside.

27.Rxb1 Bb5 28.Ng3!?

• This move has an adverse effect on White's advantage.
• White can succeed in advancing her passer after 28.g3! Bd8 29.Ra1 Rb8 30.Nd2 Bc6 31.c4 .

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Katya Lahno
Position after 28.Nf1g3

28...Bd8!?

• Black misses her biggest chance thus far in the game.
• 28...Bd3! 29.Rd1 Bc2 30.Ra1 Rb8 31.Nf1 is equal.

29.Ra1 Bd3 30.f3

• Playing thus bolsters White'c control over the light squares
• If 30.f4 Rb8 31.Kf2 Rb2+ then:
• 32.Ke3 Bc4 33.Rg1 Bxa5 34.Ne4 Re2+ is equal.
• If 32.Kf3 then:
• 32...Bc4 33.Ne4 Bd5 34.g4 Rxh2 is equal.
• 32...Bb5 33.Ne4 Bc6 34.g4 Rxh2 is equal.

30...Rb8 31.Rd1

• White moves her Rook toward the center before Black plays her Rook to b1.

31...Bc2 32.Rd2 Bg6 33.Bb6

• If 33.Kf2 Bg5 34.Be3 Bd8 then:
• 35.Ra2 Bb1 36.Ra1 Rb2+ 37.Kg1 Bc7 is equal.
• 35.Ba7 Rc8 36.Ne2 Bxa5 37.Bd4 Bd8 is equal.
• 33.Ba7!? Rc8 then:
• 34.Ne2 Bxa5 35.Bd4 Bc7 36.Kf2 Kf8 is equal.
• 34.Bb6 Bg5 35.Rb2 Rxc3 36.Kf2 Bc1 gives Black a slight advantage with the initiative.

33...Bxb6+ 34.axb6 Rxb6

• Black has equalized.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Katya Lahno
Position after 34...Rb8b6:p

35.Rd8+!?

• White's plan is to put her Rook behind the a-pawn, but this give Black time to move against the the c-pawn.
• If 35.Kf2 then:
• If 35...Rc6 36.Ne2 Rc5 37.f4 a5 then:
• 38.Ke3 a4 39.Ra2 Rc4 40.Ra3 remains equal.
• 38.Rd8+ Kh7 39.Rd7 Bh5 40.Ra7 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 35...Kf8 36.Ne2 Ke7 37.Nd4 f6 38.f4 Be4 39.Ke3 remains equal.

35...Kh7 36.Kf2

• 36.h4 h5 37.Kf2 a5 38.Ne2 Ra6 39.Rd6 Ra8 gives Black a small advantage with hwer Rook behind her passer where it belongs.

36...a5 37.Ra8

• 37.Ke3!? Rb5 38.f4 Rb3 39.Ne2 a4 40.Ra8 a3 gives Black a slight edge with the a-pawn on the move.

37...Rb2+ 38.Ke3?!

• White begins a series of poor moves that eventually costs her the game.
• This move drops a pawn.
• Correct is 38.Kg1 Ra2 39.h4 h5 40.Kh2 a4 with equality.

38...Rxg2 39.c4?!

• The c-pawn begins advancing, but this takes it beyond its perimeter of protection.
• 39.Rxa5 Rxh2 40.Ne2 Rh1 41.c4 Rd1 leaves Black with a fair advantage in that she should be able to stop the c-pawn and remain a pawn up.

39...Rc2 40.Kd4?!

• White commits to holding her passed pawn, but her chances are better if she lets go.
• If 40.Rxa5 then White has a more playable game after 40...Rxc4 41.Ra3 h5 42.f4 h4 43.Nf1 Rc1 .

40...Rxh2!

• Black will certainly loses the a-pawn, but now has a passer on the other wing.

41.c5?

• The pawn advance sould wait until the a-pawn is taken. Advancing it now only gives Black more time to set up a defense against it.
• If 41.Rxa5! h5 42.c5 Rd2+ then:
• If 43.Kc3 Rf2 44.Kd4 Rxf3 then:
• 45.c6 Rd3+ 46.Kc4 Rd8 gives White time to stop the pawn, but she will have difficulty winning from there.
• 45.Nxh5 Bxh5 46.c6 Rf1 47.c7 Rd1+ 48.Kc5 Bf3 should win for Black, but it's tricky.
• If 43.Ke3? then Black wins after 43...Rd5! 44.f4 Rd3+ 45.Kf2 h4 46.Nf1 Be4! .

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Katya Lahno
Position after 41.c4c5

41...Rd2+!

• Black cannot be stopped now.

42.Kc4

• 42.Ke3 Rd5 43.Rxa5 Rxe5+ 44.Kd4 Rd5+ 45.Kc4 h5 gives Black a fundamentally won game: White cannot advance the c-pawn without preparing the move and the Knight is about to be dislodge by a pawn that will then be a threat to queen.

42...Rc2+

• 42...h5 43.Rxa5 h4 44.Nf1 Rc2+ 45.Kd4 h3 wins for Black.

43.Kb5

• 43.Kd4 Ra2 44.Ra7 h5 45.c6 Rc2 46.c7 h4 leaves Black two pawns to the good.

43...h5

• The pawn's mission is to dislodge the Knight.
• 43...Rb2+ then:
• 44.Kc4 Rb4+ 45.Kc3 Rf4 46.Ne2 Rxf3+ 47.Kc4 Bd3+ wins the Knight.
• If 44.Kc6 Rg2 45.Kd6 Rxg3 then:
• 46.c6 Rxf3 47.c7 Rc3 48.c8Q Rxc8 49.Rxc8 Be4 50.Rc7 Kg6 leaves Black with a material advantage equivalent to two pawns.
• If 46.Rxa5 Rxf3 47.c6 Rd3+ then:
• 48.Ke7 Rc3 49.Kd7 Be4 50.c7 Bc6+ 51.Kd6 Bb7 wins for Black.
• 48.Kc7 Be4 49.Kb6 Bxc6 50.Kxc6 Rd5 leaves Black three pawns to the good with an easy win.

44.Rxa5 h4 45.Nh1

• If 45.Ne4 then 45...Bxe4 46.fxe4 g5 47.Ra1 h3 48.Kb6 g4 makes it very difficult for Black to stop a pawn from promoting.

45...Bh5 46.Ra3 Rh2 47.c6 Rxh1 48.Rc3 Rb1+ 49.Kc5 h3!

• The pawn is now a threat to promote.

50.Rc2

• 50.c7 h2 51.c8Q h1Q 52.Qa6 Qe1 53.Qd3+ Bg6! completely crushes White.

50...Bxf3 51.c7 Bb7 52.Rc3

• 52.Rh2 Rc1+ 53.Kd6 Bg2! imprisons the Rook, allowing Black to sacrifice her Rook to stop the pawn.

BLACK: Hou Yifan



WHITE: Katya Lahno
Position after 52.Rc2c3

52...Rh1!

• The text wins faster than 52...h2 53.Rh3+ Kg6 54.Rxh2 Kf5 55.Rf2+ Kxe5 56.Rxf7 .

53.Kb6 Bc8 0-1

• If 54.Ka7 then Black wins after 54...h2 55.Rh3+ Kg6 56.Kb8 Rb1+ 57.Kxc8 h1Q .
• Katerina Olexandrovna resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Koneru - Ju Wenjun, Quarterfinal Round

Koneru Humpy
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)



Women's World Championship, Quarterfinal Round/Game 1
Antakya, 13 December 2010

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Four Pawns' Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4

• This is the Four Pawns' Opening. The opening has never been popular, but it is better than its reputation.
• For the Main Line, see Ivanchuk-Grischuk}, Grand Prix, Nalchuk, 2009.[/li>

5...0-0 6.Nf3

• If 6.Be2 c5 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.Be3 then:
• 9...Bd7 10.0-0 then:
• 10...a6 then:
• 11.Kh1 Rc8 12.Nb3 b6 13.Rc1 Rb8 14.Bf3 Ne8 15.Rf2 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Rd2 gives White a commanding advantage in space (Velimirovic-Drozdov, Arandjelovac, 1993).
• 11.Qd2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Bf3 Nd7 14.Bf2 Qa5 15.Rac1 Nc5 16.Qe2 Ne6 17.Qd2 Nc5 18.Rfe1 Na4 19.e5 Bxf3 20.gxf3 draw (Timoshenko-Spulber, Romanian ChT, Tusnad, 2000).
• 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.Bf3 Nd7 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Kh1 a5 15.Qd4+ gives White the advantage in space (Santo-Roman - Vachier-Lagrave, IT, Paris, 2003).
• 9...Bg4 10.Nxc6 Bxe2 11.Nxd8 Bxd1 12.Rxd1 Rfxd8 13.Ke2 Rdc8 14.b3 b5 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5 is equal (Benko-Stein, ITZ, Stockholm, 1962).
• On the board, the game is equal.

6...Na6!?

• If 6...c5 7.d5 e6 8.Be2 exd5 9.cxd5 then:
• If 9...Bg4 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Re1 Re8 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 then:
• If 13...Qa5 then:
• If 14.Be3 b5 15.a3 Nb6 16.e5 then:
• 16...Nfd7 17.e6 Nc4 18.exd7 Rxe3 19.Rxe3 Nxe3 20.Qe2 Qd8 21.Qxb5 Rb8 is equal (Vaisser-Banikas, French ChT, Bordeaux, 2001).
• If 16...Nc4 17.exf6 Nxe3 18.Rxe3 Rxe3 19.fxg7 Rae8 20.f5 gxf5 21.Qd2 then:
• 21...c4 22.Rf1 Qd8 23.Qd4 a6 24.a4 Rd3 25.Qf2 Qd7 26.axb5 axb5 27.Bd1 gives White the initiative (Mercadal Benejam-Hamilton, Corres, 2001).
• 21...b4 22.Ne2 c4 23.Ng3 c3 24.bxc3 bxc3 25.Qf2 Qb6 26.Kh2 (S. Ernst-Baldus, Op, Vlissingen, 2001).
• If 14.g4 h6 15.h4 b5 16.g5 hxg5 17.hxg5 Nh7 then:
• 18.e5? dxe5! 19.d6 Rad8 20.Nd5 exf4 gives Black two extra pawns (Thorfinsson-Gallagher, Euro ChT, Gothenburg, 2005).
• 18.Bd2! c4 19.Qc2 Nc5 20.Ne2 Qa6 is equal.
• If 13...a6 14.a4 c4 15.Be3 Qa5 16.Kh1 then:
• If 16...Nc5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 then:
• 18.e5!? dxe5 19.fxe5 Nd7 20.Ne4 Qb4 21.e6 fxe6 22.Bg4 Nf8 gives Black an extra pawn (Verdier-Alverez, Corres, 1999).
• 18.a5 Re7 19.Qe2 Nd7 20.g3 Rc8 21.Qc2 Rce8 is equal.
• 16...Re7 17.Qd2 Rae8 18.Qf2 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 is equal (Peicheva-J. Polgar, IT, Novi Sad, 1990).
• If 9...Re8 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Ng4 then:
• If 12.Bg5 Qb6 13.0-0 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Bc4 then:
• If 15...Qb4 16.Qf3 Bf5 then:
• 17.Bb5 Rf8 18.Qe2 f6 19.Be3 Bg4 20.Qc4 a6 21.a3 Qxb2 22.Qxg4 Qxc3 goves Black two extra pawns (Nordahl-K. Lie, Norwegian Ch, Kristiansund, 2001).
• 17.g4 Qxc4 18.gxf5 f6 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Bxf6 Nd7 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qf6 b5 23.Rf4 Qd3 24.Raf1 Qh3 25.Ne4 Qd7 26.Qg5 Black resigns (Sazbo-Pietzsch, IT, Salgotarjan, 1967).
• If 15...Bf5 then:
• 16.Bb5 c4+ 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.Qf3 f6 19.Rae1 Qd4 20.Bf4 Qxf4 21.Qxf4 Bxf4 22.Rxf4 White's activity compensates for his pawn minus (Mikenas-Vladimirov, Soviet Ch Semif, Moscow, 1963).
• 16.Nb5 a6 17.d6 axb5 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rxf5+ gxf5 20.Qh5+ Kf8 21.Bh6+ Bg7 22.Rf1 c4+ 23.Kh1 Qf2 24.Bxg7+ Kxg7 25.Qg5+ Kf8 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ draw (Arencibia-Vera, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2006).
• If 12.e6 fxe6 then:
• 13.d6 Ne5 14.0-0 Nbc6 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bf4 Rf8 17.Bxe5 Nxe5 18.Qd2 gives White an advaced passer cramping Black's position, thus giving White more freedom (Kauppila-Nithlander, Rilton Cup 0910, Stockholm, 2010).
• 13.0-0 exd5 14.Nxd5 Be6 15.Bc4 Ne5 16.Bg5 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Qxg5 18.Rae1 Nc6 19.Rxe6 Rxe6 (Rogers-van der Wiel, World ChU16, Wattignies, 1976).

7.Bd3!

• If 7.e5 Nd7 8.Be2 c5 9.exd6 exd6 10.0-0 Nf6 11.d5 then:
• 11...Nc7 12.a4 b6 13.Bd3 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 a6 16.Bd2 Rb8 gives White the advantage in space (Sutter-Cebalo, Op, Biel, 2005).
• 11...Re8 12.Bd3 Bd7 13.f5 Ng4 14.Bg5 Bf6 15.Qd2 Bxg5 16.Nxg5 gives White the advantage in space (Schweber-Kashdan, IT, Mar del Plata, 1960).

7...e5

• If 7...Bg4 8.0-0 e5 9.fxe5 Nd7 then:
• If 10.Be3 c5 11.d5 Nxe5 12.Be2 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 then:
• If 13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qe7 15.Bf4 Nc7 then:
• 16.Qg3 Rad8 17.Kh1 Bd4 18.Rae1 f6 19.Ne2 Be5 20.Ng1 Bxf4 21.Qxf4 gives White the advantage in space (Beim-Kindermann, Bundesliga 9900, Germany, 1999).
• 16.Kh1 Rae8 17.Qg3 Be5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Qxe5 Rxe5 20.Rf6 gives White the advantage in space (Parker-T. Burg, Op, Amsterdam, 2006).
• 13...Bd7 14.Qd2 Nc7 15.Rf2 Be5 16.Raf1 Qe7 17.a3 b5 18.Be2 bxc4 19.Bxc4 Rab8 20.Kh1 Qh4 21.Bf4 Qe7 draw (Mercadal Benejam-Tiemann, Corres, 2002).
• If 10.Qe1 then:
• 10...Bxf3 11.gxf3 c5 12.exd6 cxd4 13.Nd5 Ne5 14.Bc2 Qxd6 is equal (Zimmerman-Neumeier, 1st Saturday April, Budapest, 1999).
• 10...c5 11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Qh4 Bxf3 13.Rxf3 cxd4 14.Nd5 quickly resolved into a vitory for White (Zimmerman-Erdelyi, Spring Festival, Budapest, 2001).

8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5 Nc5

• If 9...c6 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...cxd5 11.cxd5 Ne8 then:
• 12.Be3 Nd6 13.Qb3 b6 14.Nb5 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Ng5 gives White the advantage in space (Mercadal Benejam-Pillhock, Corres, 2000).
• 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bh4 Nd6 14.Kh1 Qe8 15.Nd2 Nc5 16.Nc4 Qe7 17.Nxd6 Qxd6 18.Nb5 Qd7 19.d6 Kh8 20.Rc1 draw (Gretarsson-McShane, Op, Reykjavik, 2000).
• 10...Nc5 11.Bc2 cxd5 12.cxd5 b6 13.b4 Nb7 14.Bg5 Qd6 15.a3 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (Williams-Hebden, British Ch, Torquay, 2009).

10.Bc2 a5 11.0-0 Qe7

• 11...Ne8 12.Be3 b6 13.Qd2 Nd6 14.b3 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Rae1 e4 17.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (Babula-Smirin, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

12.Qe2 (N)

• 12.Rb1 Bd7 13.b3 Nh5 14.Kh1 f5 15.Bg5 Bf6 16.Be3 f4 gives Black the advantage in space (Bezemer-Hoffman, Op, Hoogeveen, 2009).

12...Bd7

• White has a clear advantage in space.

13.Kh1

• White maintains her advantage better with 13.Be3 Na6 14.Rad1 Ng4 15.d6 cxd6 16.Nd5 when she also nets an extra pawn.

13...b6!?

• This is a waste of time that allows White to gain more space.
13...Qd6 14.h3 c6 15.Be3 cxd5 16.exd5 Nh5 17.Qf2 gives White only a small advantage in space.

14.Rb1

• White sets up a queenside push,but that isn't the best of to take advantage of Black's lapse.
• 14.Bg5! h6 15.Bh4 a4 16.Nb5 Rfc8 17.Rad1 gives White a solid center.

14...Nh5

• The Knight seems headed fo f4, but Black should take restraining maneuvers agains White's queenside.
• If 14...a4 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 Qd6 (Black blocades White pawn mass) then:
• 17.Bf2 Ng4 18.Bg1 f5 19.Rbe1 gives White an impressive advantage in space.
• 17.Nb5 Bxb5 18.cxb5 Nh5 19.Rbe1 gives White an advantage in space not qute as impressive the the main variation.

15.Be3 Bg4!?

• This pin is so easily broken that one wonders if it is worth the energy to pick up the piece.
• Better is 15...Rae8 16.Rbd1 f5 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Nb5 although White still enjoys a good advantage in space.

BLACK: Ju Wenjun



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 15...Bd7g4

16.Qf2!

• The pin is easily sidestepped.

16...Nb7

• 16...Rad8?! does more to restrain White's d-pawn, but after 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Qxc5 bxc5 19.Nd2! f5 20.Nb3 Black must lose a pawn.

17.Nb5 f5!?

• Black weakens her kingside pawns and hands White the initiative.
• Better is 17...a4 18.a3 Na5 19.Qe2 Nb3 20.Rbe1 Nc5 21.Qf2 when things at least don't get worse for Black.

18.exf5 gxf5

BLACK: Ju Wenjun



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 18...gf5:p

19.Bg5!

• White sends her minor pieces into Black territory.
• If 19.Ng5 Bf6 then:
• 20.Rbe1 e4 21.Ne6 f4 22.Nxf4 Be5 23.Bxe4 gives White two extra pawns.
• If 20.Bxf5? then:
• 20...Bxg5! 21.Bxg4 Rxf2 22.Bxf2 Ng7 23.Bg3 effectively gives Black an extra piece.
• 20...Bxf5? 21.Qxf5! Bxg5 22.Qxg5+ Qxg5 23.Bxg5 gives White more and stronger pawns.

19...Bf6

• Black's position is very difficult, but swapping the Bishops is the best decision.
• If 19...Qf7? 20.Rbe1! then:
• If 20...Rae8 21.Nd2 h6 22.Bh4 f4 23.h3 Bc8 24.Ne4 leaves White with more freedom and Black's pawn unable to make any further progress.
• If 20...Rfe8 21.Bd2 Qd7 22.h3 f4 23.hxg4 then:
• 23...Ng3+ 24.Kg1 Nc5 25.Bc3 e4 26.Nfd4 Nxf1 27.Qxf1 wins for White as Black's central duo falls.
• 23...Qxg4 24.Nxc7 Ng3+ 25.Kg1 Nc5 26.Nxa8 Qh5 27.Nh2 leaves White a piece to the good after exchanges on f1 and a8.

20.Bxf6 Rxf6 21.Rbe1

• White posts her Rooks for the battle against the advance of Black's center pawns.
• The text is better than 21.Rfe1 Bxf3 22.Qxf3 Ng7 when:
• 23.Re2 23...Re8 24.Rf1 Ref8 25.Qg3 e4 26.Nd4 White will be forced to play b2b3 in order to protect her c-pawn, making her very weak on the drak squares.
• 23.Qc3 Re8 24.Re3 Rf7 25.a3 e4 26.b4 leaves the Knight at b5 with no place to go.

21...e4

• 21...Bxf3 22.Qxf3 Ng7 23.Nd4 Qd6 24.Nxf5 Nxf5 25.Bxf5 leaves White a pawn to the good with the iitiative.

22.Nfd4 Nc5 23.Nc6

BLACK: Ju Wenjun



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 23.Nd5c6

23...Qg7

• Black stakes her chances on the kingside. It's not lkikely to succeed, but it's still the right decision.

24.Ne5 Rh6

• If 24...Re8 25.Nxg4 then:
• If25...fxg4 then:
• 26.Qd2 Qh6 27.Qxh6 Rxh6 28.Kg1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 26.Qh4? Nf4! 27.g3 Rh6 28.Qxh6 Qxh6 29.Rxf4 gives Black a material advantage and a passed e-pawn ready to get into mischief.
• 25...Qxg4? 26.Nxc7! Re7 27.Nb5 Rg7 28.Bd1 gives White an extra pawn and a strong initiative to counter Black's kingside gains.

25.Nxg4 Qxg4 26.Kg1 Rf8 27.Nxc7 Rg6

• If 27...Qg7?! 28.Ne6! Nxe6 29.dxe6 Rxe6 30.c5 then:
• 30...Re5 31.cxb6 Rb8 32.Qd4 Kh8 33.Qd6 Rg8 34.Re2 gives White a srrong game.
• 30...bxc5? 31.Bb3 Qe5 32.Bxe6+ Qxe6 and White wins.

28.Ne6?!

• This move jeopardizes White's winning position. If the Knight could remain, it would be White's star piece. Of course, Black will just exchange it off, giving White a weak pawn at e6.
• If 28.Qd2 Rf7 29.Ne6 then:
• 29...Nxe6 30.dxe6 Rxe6 31.c5 bxc5 32.Bb3 wins at least the exchange.
• If 29...Qh4 30.Nxc5 bxc5 31.Re2 then:
• 31...Rg4 32.Qxa5 Nf4 33.Rxf4 Rxf4 34.Qxc5 leave White with a Bishop and three pawns that together are stroner than Black's Rook.
• 31...Nf6 32.Ba4 Qh5 33.Bd1 Ng4 34.h3 Nf6 35.Qe3 gives White an extra pawn and more freedom.

28...Nxe6! 29.dxe6 Nf4!

• Black has a small edge on the kingside.

30.Kh1 Nxe6 31.Re3 Nc5?

• Believe it or not, Black just dropped a pawn.
• I 31...Qg5! 32.Rg3 Qd8 33.b3 Qd4 34.Re3 Qe5 remains equal.

BLACK: Ju Wenjun



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 31...Ne6c5

32.h3!!

• And, believe it or not, this quiet little move takes advantage of the pin on Black's f-pawn to win the e-pawn.

32...Qg5

• Forced.

33.Bxe4!

• The plan is executed. White has an extra pawn.

33...Nxe4

• 33...Rgf6 34.Rg3 Nxe4 35.Rxg5+ Nxg5 36.Qg3 Rg6 37.Qe5 gives White a material advantage equivalent to two pawns.

34.Rxe4!

• Obviously, the Rook is protected by the hypothetical mate at f8.

34...f4

• 34...Qxg2+ 35.Qxg2 Rxg2 36.Kxg2 fxe4 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Kf2 is a won King and pawn ending for White.

35.Qf3

• This is good, but not best.
• 35.Qe2! h6 36.b3 Qc5 37.Rexf4 wins for White.

35...h6 36.Rf2 Rgf6 37.Rd2 Rg6

• The f-pawn is critical to Black and she must go for broke protecting it. An interest point to make is that White never takes the f-pawn in the game, but forces Black to go broke protecting it.
37...Kg7 38.Rd3 R8f7 39.Re8 Qf5 40.Rd5 wins for White.

38.Rdd4 Rgf6

• If 38...Qg3 39.Rxf4 then:
• 39...Qxf3 40.Rxf3 Re8 41.Rf2 leaves White with two extra pawns.
• 39...Rxf4 40.Qxg3 Rxg3 41.Rxf4 leaves White with two extra pawns.

39.Re7 R6f7 40.Re6 Rf6 41.Rdd6!

• With her pieces occupied protecting the f-pawn, Black loses her b-pawn, giving White a fine passer.
• 41.Rde4 Qg6 42.Re7 Kh8 43.Rd4 a4 44.b3 brings White closer to winning.

41...Rxe6

• Black has been hanging by a thread since losing the pawn (see note to Black's 31st move), but now she finally gives up the ghost.
• If 41...Qf5 42.Rxf6 Rxf6 43.Rd5 Qg6 44.Rd4 the thread holds, but it must be awfully uncomfortalbe.

42.Rxe6 Rf6

BLACK: Ju Wenjun



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 42...Rf8f6

43.Qa8+!

• The game is clearly won for White.

43...Kg7 44.Re7+

• 44.Qb7+ Rf7 45.Qxb6 Rd7 46.Re1 Qf5 47.Qf2 is a quicker win.

44...Rf7 45.Rxf7+ Kxf7 46.Qb7+ Qe7 47.Qxb6

• The b-pawn falls.

47...Qe1+

• If 47...Qe5 48.b3 Qe1+ 49.Kh2 Qg3+ then:
• If 50.Kh1! Qe1+ 51.Qg1! then:
• 51...Qe5 52.a3 Ke8 53.Qc1 Kd8 54.b4 axb4 55.axb4 gives White two connected passers and a win.
• 51...Qxg1+? is harikai: if now 52.Kxg1 then 52...Ke6 53.Kf2 Ke5 54.Kf3 Kf5 55.a3 will soon yield White two connected distant passers.
• 50.Kg1!? wastes time with 50...Qe1+ 51.Kh2 Qg3+ before 52.Kh1! sets things right.

48.Qg1 Qd2 49.Qf1

• White probably wins faster after 49.Qa7+! Ke8 50.Qb8+ Kd7 51.Kh2.

49...Ke6 50.Kh2 Ke5 51.Qf3 Qxb2 52.Qh5+ Kd4

• Black probably lasts longer after 52...Kd6 53.Qxh6+ Kd7 54.Qxf4 Qxa2 55.c5, but the result won't change.

53.Qd5+ Ke3 54.c5 Qc1

• If 54...Qg7 55.Qd1 Ke4 56.c6 then:
• 56...Qg3+ 57.Kh1 Ke5 58.Qh5+ Kd6 59.Qxh6+ Kc7 60.Qe6 wins for White.
• 56...Qc7 57.Kh1 Ke3 58.Qd5 Kf2 59.Qd7 f3 60.Qd2+ wins easily.

55.c6!

• Black cannot allow this pawn tlo get any closer to the eighth rank.

55...a4 56.a3 Kf2 57.Qd4+ Ke2 58.Qxa4 Qe3

• If 58...Kf2 59.Qd4+ Ke2 60.Qe4+ then:
• 60...Kf2 61.Qf3+ Ke1 62.a4 is an easy win for White.
• 60...Kd1 61.a4 h5 62.Qf3+ Ke1 63.a5 Qc4 64.a6 wins.

59.Qc2+ Kf1 60.Qd1+ 1-0

• If 60...Kf2 61.Qg1+ Ke2 62.Qxe3+ fxe3 63.c7 White queens two moves before Black.
• Ms. Ju resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Russian National Championships, Moscow

Red Square, Moscow
Photo by Adam Baker, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Kurnosov-Svidler, Round 3

No emoticons



Peter Svidler
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Igor Kurnosov - Peter Svidler
63rd Russian National Championship, Round 3
Moscow, 13 December 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3

• For this and other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Qg4 g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0-0 Nc6

• 9...Nd7 10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 b6 12.Rae1 Bb7 13.Kh1 h5 14.Nd4 Ngf6 15.h3 h4 16.Nf3 Ne5 17.a4 Kf8 18.Bg5 Nh5 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Qe3 Nxf3 21.Qxf3 Qc5 22.Qg4 Rag8 23.Qe2 Nf4 24.Qe3 g5 25.f3 Qxe3 26.Rxe3 Rc8 27.Rd1 Rhd8 28.Kg1 d5 draw (Korneev-Epishin, Op, Reyjavik, 2004).

10.c4

• 10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 Bf8 12.f4 Bg7 13.Rae1 Nf6 14.Nd1 0-0 15.Ne3 gives White a small advantage in space (Short-Svidler, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).

10...Ne5 11.h3N

• 11.Nc3 Qc7 12.f4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Nf6 14.Be3 Bd7 15.Bd4 0-0 16.e5 gives White the advantage in space (Ciuksyte-Dzagnidze, Euro ChW, Plovdkiv, 2008).

11...Nf6 12.Bh6

• White has a slight advantage in space.

12...Nh5!?

• This could be an indication that Black is playing for a win.
• Safer is 12...Rg8 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxh6 g5 15.Nc3 Qb6 with equality.

13.N1d2!?

• 13.Be3 g5 14.Qxh5 Nxd3 15.Qe2 Nf4 16.Qf3 Ng6 gives White a small advantage in space.

13...Nxd3 14.Qxd3
BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 14.Qe2d3:N

14...g5!

• Black imprisons the Bishop. This gives him more freedom now, and more tangible advantages later on.

15.e5!?

• White is feeling cramped and moves to open the center and exchange his way out of it. The problem with this move is that his problem is not so mjuch being cramped as it is the lack of freedom for his Bishop.
• Another try is 15.Qf3! Nf4 16.e5 when:
• 16...dxe5 17.Bg7 Rg8 18.Bxe5 Qd3 19.Rfe1 gives Black more freedom and the initiative after the Bishop develops on b7.
• 16...Rg8 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Ne4 Be5 19.Rfd1 is again equal.

15...dxe5

• If 15...Rg8? then Black is busted after 16.Qxh7 Rg6 17.Ne4 Nf4 18.Bg7 Kd7 19.exd6.

16.Qf3 Nf4 17.Bg7 Rg8 18.Bxe5

• White has liberated the Bishop and regained his pawn, but Black has taken command of a key square in the heart of White's territory.

18...Qd3!

• Black makes use of d3.

19.c5?!

• If 19.Qxd3 Nxd3 then:
20.Bc3 e5 21.Nc1 Nxc1 22.Raxc1 f6 23.Rfd1 g4 gives Black the Bishop pair and more freedom for them. The game is opening nicely in Black's favor.
• If 20.Nf3 then:
• 20...f6 21.Bc3 e5 22.Nc1 Nf4 23.Nd2 b5 opens the game further for Black's Bishops and Rooks.
• If 20...g4 21.hxg4 then:
21...f6 22.Bc3 Rxg4 23.Rad1 Nf4 24.g3 Ne2+ 25.Kg2 Nxc3 wins the c-pawn and weakens White's queenside.
• 21...Rxg4!? 22.Rad1! Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Re4 gives Black only a slight advantage in space.

19...Qxf3 20.Nxf3 f6!

• Black drives the Bishop to a less desirable post.

21.Bd6?

• It might be better to just swap the Bishop on f4.
• 21.Bxf4 gxf4 22.Kh2 e5 23.Rac1 Be6 still gives Black a healthy advantage in space.

BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 21.Be5d6

21...e5!

• Black isn't compelled to take the Bishop, so he bides him time and improves his position.

22.Nfd2

• Tempting as the idea may seem, exchanging the Bishop now doesn't work too well.
• If 22.Bxe7 Kxe7 23.Nfd2 Be6 then:
• 24.Ne4 f5 25.Ng3 Rac8 26.Rfe1 Nd3 wins more material.
• 24.Rfd1 g4 25.hxg4 Bxg4 26.Re1 Rad8 leaves White in disarray.

22...g4 23.h4

• No better is 23.hxg4 Bxg4 24.g3 Nd3 25.Kg2 Nxb2 26.Na5 b5!.

23...Be6 24.g3 Nd3 25.Rab1 a5 26.Ne4 Nb4

• White might last a little longer after 26...Bd5 27.Nbd2 Bxa2 Ra1.

27.Rfe1 a4 28.Nc1 Kf7 29.a3

• White is simply out of moves.
• If 29.Bxe7 Kxe7 30.b3 a3 then:
• 31.Nd6 b6 32.Ne4 bxc5 33.Nxc5 Bf5 34.Ra1 Rac8 followed by 35.Nc2 wins for Black.
• If 31.Re2 then 31...Rgc8 32.Kf1 Rc6 33.Ke1 Bf5 Black wins the c-pawn after the exchange on e4.

BLACK: Peter Svidler



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 29.a2a3

29...Nc2!

• This solid right hook sends White to the canvas for the count.

30.Rd1

• 30.Re2 Nd4 31.Re3 Nf3+ 32.Kf1 f5! wins the exchange after either:
• 33.Rxf3 gxf3.
• Or 33.Nc3 Nd2+.

30...Bf5 31.Bxe7

• White falls on his sword.
• If 31.Nc3 loses to 31...Nd4 32.Ra1 Bc2 33.Rf1 Bxd6 34.cxd6 Rgd8.

31...Bxe4 32.Bd6 Nxa3 33.Ra1

• No better is 33.bxa3 Bxb1 34.Bc7 Rac8 35.Bb6 Be4.

33...Nc2 34.Ra2 Ke6 35.Rd2

• White might last a little bit longer after 35.Ne2 Bd5 36.Rxd5 Kxd5 37.Nc3+ Kc6.

35...Nd4 36.Kf1

• 36.Rd1 still loses after 36...Nf3+ 37.Kg2 Rgd8 38.Ne2 Nd4+.

36...Nf3 37.Re2 Bd5!

• Black must win an exchange.

38.Ra3 Bc4 39.Nd3 Nd4 40.Rc3 Bxd3 41.Rxd3 Nxe2 0-1

• Black wins the exchange and White is lost.
• 42.Kxe2 then:
• 42...Ra5 43.Rd2 Rd8 44.Rc2 Rb5 45.Ke3 b6 46.Bc7 Rb3+ wins for Black.
• If 42...Rgc8 43.Ra3 Rc6 44.b3 axb3 then:
• If 45.Rxb3 then after 45...b6 46.Rb5 Rd8 White must begin losing material.
• 45.Rxa8 loses immediately to 45...b2!.
• Grandmaster Kurnosov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Karjakin-Nepomniachtchi, Round 3

Sergey Karjakin
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Sergey Karjakin - Ian Nepomniachtchi
63rd Russian National Championship, Round 3
Moscow, 13 December 2010

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

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bc4

• For moves up to here, see Dzhumaev Ghaem Maghami, Op, New Delhi, 2010.

8...0-0 9.0-0 Nc6

• If 9...Be6 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.Bg5 then:
• If 11...Nd7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Qe2 then:
• If 14...Nc5 15.Rad1 then:
• If 15...Kh8 16.h3 then:
• 16...f5 17.Nc3 Qd7 18.Rd2 Bxb3 19.axb3 (Vachier Lagrave-Bu Xiangzhi, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2008).
• 16...Rc8 17.Rfe1 f5 18.Nc3 Nxb3 19.axb3 Qe7 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Nd5 Qd8 gives Black a small advantage in space (Svetushkin-Gheam Magami, Bundesliga 0910, Heidelberg, 2010).
• 15...b5 16.Ne3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Qc7 18.Rd2 gives White fewer pawn weakness (J. Polgar-Anand, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• If 14...Na5 15.Rad1 Rc8 then:
• 16.Ne3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Qe7 18.Rd2 Nc5 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Ne6 21.g3 f5 22.exf5 Rxf5 gives Black the advantage in space (Brkic-Hou Yifan, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• 16.Rd2 Nxb3 17.axb3 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Qc7 19.Rd2 Nf6 20.Nh4 Rfd8 21.Nf5 d5 22.exd5 Rxd5 23.Rxd5 Nxd5 is equal (Bojkovic-Ju Wenjun, World ChW, Nalchik, 2008).
• If 11...Na5 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd5 Nxb3 14.axb3 then:
• 14...Bg5 15.Qd3 Bh6 16.Rad1 Rc8 17.Nd2 b5 18.c3 Kh8 19.b4 Ra8 20.Nb3 f5 21.Na5 Rc8 is equal (Ivanchuk-Kasparov, Grand Prix, New York, 1991).
• 14...Rc8 15.c3 Bg5 16.Nxg5 Qxg5 17.Re1 g6 18.Re3 Kg7 19.Rg3 is equal (Ding Yixin-Ju Wenjun, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2009).

10.Re1 Be6

• If 10...b5 11.Bf1 Rb8 12.Bg5 then:
• 12...Ng4 13.Bc1 Nf6 14.Bg5 Ng4 15.Bc1 Nf6 16.a3 h6 17.h3 draw (Motylev-Nepomniachtchi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...Ne8 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qc1 Qb7 (Lastin-Kokorev, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

11.Nd5 b5

• If 11...Bxd5 12.exd5 b5 13.Bf1 Na5 14.b3 then:
• 14...Qb8 15.c4 bxc4 16.b4 Nb7 17.Bxc4 gives White a very respectable advantage in space (Frolyanbov-Najer, Russian Natl Ch HL, Ulan Ude, 2009).
• If 14...Ng4 15.Bd2 then:
• 15...Qb6 16.h3 Nxf2?! 17.Bxa5! Qxa5 18.Kxf2 leaves White a piece to the good (Topalov-Gelfand, IT, Linares, 1994).
• 15...Nb7 16.c4 Qb6 17.Qe2 bxc4 18.bxc4 gives White a good advantage in space.

12.Bb3!? (N)

• If 12.Bf1 then:
• If 12...Rb8 13.c4 Nxe4 14.Qc2 Nc5 15.Rad1 then:
• 15...Bxd5?! 16.cxd5 Nb4 17.Qd2 Nxa2 18.b3 Ne4 19.Qxa2 Nc3 gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative in compnsation for his material deficit (Movsesian-Nepomniatchi, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
• If 15...bxc4! then:
• 16.Bxc4 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Nb4 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.Rxd8 Rfxd8 19.Bxc4 Nb4 gives Black a considerable advantage in space.
• 12...Nxe4 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Rxe4 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Qxb6 gives Black a small advantage in space.

12...Bxd5 13.Bxd5

• White has a healthy advantage in space.

13...Qc7

• If 13...Qd7 14.c3 Rac8 15.a4 then:
• 15...b4 16.Qd3 bxc3 17.bxc3 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 gives White more than his share of space.
• 15...Nxd5 16.exd5 Nb8 17.Qb3 bxa4 18.Rxa4 gives White more space and a Rook on a navigable rank.

14.c3 Nxd5

• If 14...Rab8 15.Rc1 Na5 16.b3 then:
• 16...Rfc8 17.Qd2 Nxd5 18.exd5 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 16...Nb7 17.c4 b4 18.Nh4 gives White a very respectable advantage in space.

15.Qxd5 Bf6 16.Red1

BLACK: Ian Nepomniachtchi



WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 16.Reld1

16...Rfd8!?

• Black uses the wrong Rook. Leaving the a-pawn uncovered is of no consequnce for the moment, since there is easy way for White to get at it.
• 16...Rad8 17.a4 Ne7 18.Qb3 Qb7 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nd2 gives White a fair advantage in space.

17.a4!?

• White has better things to do than let Black open up the a-file.
• Better is 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.Bxg5 Ne7 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Qc6 leaving Black with an awful backward pawn at d6.

17...Ne7!

• White now holds only a small edge in space.

18.Qd3 Qc6?!

• This is a good example of a waiting move, if one were in order. Black needs to create his opportunities.
• Better is 18...bxa4 19.Rxa4 d5! 20.Rda1 Qb7 with equality.

19.axb5!

• White gains a significant advantage.

19...axb5 20.Rxa8 Rxa8

• Although Black posesses the a-file, White has fewer pawn weaknesses. White should go about blockading and restraining Black's pawn and the seek to eliminate them.

21.h4!?

• This is a waste of time and, as is so often the case, it costs loiterer a good piece of his advantage.
• If 21.Ne1! (the Knight is headed for b4 via c2) then:
• 21...h6 22.Nc2 Rd8 23.Bc1 Bh4 24.b3 Rc8 25.Bb2 leaves White's position solid while Black suffers from weak pawns.
• If 21...Ra6?! 22.Nc2! then:
• 22...Ra4 23.Qxd6 Qxd6 24.Rxd6 h6 25.Rb6 Rxe4 26.Rxb5 White is a pawn to the good with two connected passers.
• If 22...Qc4 23.Kf1 then:
• 23...Qxd3+ 24.Rxd3 Ra2 25.Rxd6 h6 26.Na3 Rxb2 27.Rb6 White will win a pawn.
• 23...h5? then White wins after 24.Na3 Qxd3+ 25.Rxd3 b4 26.cxb4 d5 27.b5.

21...h6 22.Bg5!?

• It's an interesting maneuver with a certain pleasing symmetry.
• Nevertheless, better is 22.h5 when:
If
• 22...Ra2 23.b3 then:
• If 23...Ra6 24.c4 bxc4 25.bxc4 Qc8 then:
• 26.Rb1 Qe6 27.c5 Rc6 28.Rb8+ gives White the initiative and the better center.
• If 26.c5!? dxc5! then:
• 27.Bxc5 Nc6 28.Qd7 Qxd7 29.Rxd7 Ra4 is equal.
• 27.Qd8+ Qxd8 28.Rxd8+ Kh7 29.Bxc5 is equal.
• 23...Rb2 24.b4 Ra2 25.Qxd6 Qxe4 26.Qb8+ Kh7 27.Rd8 wins for White.
• If 22...Ra6 23.Nh2 Bh4 24.g3 Bg5 25.Bxg5 hxg5 26.Ng4 gives White more freedom and better pawn structure.

22...hxg5

• 22...Bxg5 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.Nxg5 transposes into the next note.

23.hxg5 Rd8!?

• The best thing to do is to finish the dance by taking the pawn.
• If 23...Bxg5 24.Nxg5 then:
• 24...Ra6 25.Qh3 Ng6 26.Rd5 Nf8 27.Kh2 Ra2 28.Qh5 gives White more space, more freedom and a mating threat starting with 29.Qxf7!
• If 24...f6 25.Ne6 Kf7 26.Qxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd6 Nc8 then White escapes the double attack with 28.Nd8+!.

24.gxf6 gxf6

• Blacks pawns are spoiled and his King exposed.

BLACK: Ian Nepomniachtchi



WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 24...gf6:p

25.Nh2

• If 25.Ne1 Qc4 26.Qf3 then:
• If 26...Kg7 27.Ra1 then:
• 27...Qe6 28.Ra7 d5 29.exd5 Nxd5 30.Nd3 gives White a small advantge in space, pawn structure and King safety.
• 27...d5 28.Ra6 Ng8 29.exd5 Rxd5 30.Nc2 gives White a fair advantage in space, pawn structure and King safety.
• 26...Qe6 27.Nc2 f5 28.exf5 Qxf5 29.Qxf5 Nxf5 30.Rd5 f6 31.Rxb5 wins a pawn for White.

25...d5 26.Ng4 d4

• 26...b4?! 27.cxb4 d4 28.b5 Qe6 29.Qh3 Ng6 30.Nh6+ gives White a passed pawn on one side of the board and an effective attack on the enemy King on the other.

27.Qg3

• If 27.Qh3 then:
• If 27...Ng6 28.Nh6+ Kf8 then:
• 29.Qf3 Ne7 30.Qh5 Qe6 31.Ng4 Nc6 32.Rd3 gives White the advantage, but it is problematic as to whether it can be converted to a win.
• 29.Nxf7!? Nf4! 30.Qh8+ Kxf7 31.Qxd8 Qxe4! is a likely draw.
• 27...Rd6 28.Rd3 Ng6 29.Nh6+ Kf8 30.Nf5 Rd7 31.Qf3 gives White stronger pawns and more freedom.

27...Ng6 28.Qf3 Kg7 29.Ne3 Ne7 30.Qg4+!?

• White misses an opportunity to take a clear advantage.
• If 30.Nc2! Kf8 31.Nb4! then:
• 31...Qe6 32.Qh5 Kg7 33.Qe2 Nc6 34.Qxb5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 31...Qb6 32.Ra1 Qb7 33.Qxf6 Qxe4 34.Qh6+ Kg8 35.Qb6 wins a pawn for White.

30...Kf8!

• The game is equal.

31.Qh4

• 31.Qh3 Qxe4 32.Qh6+ Ke8 33.Qh8+ Kd7 remains equal.

31...Kg7 32.Rd3 Qb6 33.cxd4

• 33.Ng4 Rh8 34.Qg3 Ng6 35.cxd4 exd4 36.Qf3 Rh4 remains equal.

33...exd4 34.Qg4+!?

• White misses another chnace to convert his advantage.
• 34.e5! Qe6 35.Ng4 fxe5 36.Qg5+ Ng6 then:
• If 37.f4! then:
• If 37...f5 38.Qxd8 fxg4 39.fxe5 then:
• 39...Nf4 40.Rxd4 Ne2+ 41.Kf2 Nxd4 42.Qxd4 wins for White.
• 39...Qxe5 40.Qd7+ Kh6 41.Qxg4 Nf4 42.Ra3 also wins.
• 37...Rh8 38.f5 Qd6 39.fxg6 f6 40.Qf5 leaves White with an extra piece.
• 37.Qxd8?! Qxg4! 38.Qe8 Nf4 39.Qxe5+ Kf8 40.Qh8+ Ke7 41.Qe5+ etc. draws.

34...Kf8 35.Qd1 Ke8

• Real bad (and it shoud be obvious) is35...dxe3? 36.Rxd8+! Kg7 when:
• If 37.Qg4+ Ng6 38.Rd5 then:
• 38...Qa7 39.fxe3 Qxe3+ 40.Kh2 b4 41.Rf5 Qd4 42.b3 leaves White up by an exchange and putting pressure on Black's King.
• 38...exf2+ 39.Kf1 Qe3 40.Qe2 Qc1+ 41.Kxf2 leaves White up by the exchange and picking off pawns, winning.
• 37.Kf1 exf2 38.Qd4 Qc6 39.Rd6 Qc1+ 40.Kxf2 Qf4+ 41.Ke2 also wins.

36.Qh5!

• The text is better than 36.Nc2 Nc6 37.Rh3 Qc5 38.Rh5 Qc4 39.Na3, when Black has some counterplay after 39...Qa4!.

36...Rd6 37.Qh8+ Kd7 38.Ng4 Qc6 39.e5?!

• White had him on the ropes and lets him slip away.
• If 39.Ra3! Nc8 40.Rf3 Ke7 41.Nh6 then:
• If 41...Rd8 42.Qg7 then:
• If 42...Rf8 43.Rxf6 Qxf6 44.Nf5+ Ke6 then:
• 45.Nxd4+ Ke7 46.Nf5+ Ke6 47.Qxf8 gives White two extra pawns.
• If 45.Qxf8 then:
• 45...Kd7 46.Qc5 Qc6 47.Qxd4+ then:
• 47...Ke8 48.b3 Qc1+ 49.Kh2 wins for White.
• If 45...Ne7 46.Qe8 d3 47.Kf1 b4 48.Nxe7 Qxe7 49.Qxe7+ Kxe7 50.Ke1 the White King will capture the d- and b-pawns, leaving Black no chance to avoid loss.
• 47...Nd6 48.e5 Ke6 49.Qxd6+ Qxd6 50.exd6 Kd7 51.f4 wins easily.
• 42...Qe6? 43.e5! Rf8 44.Rxf6 Qb3 45.Nf5+ Ke8 46.e6 wins for White.
• 41...Qc1+? 42.Kh2 Re6 43.Ng8+! Kd6 44.Nxf6 Nb6 45.Qd8+ gives White a winning advantage.

39...Ng6?

• Black digs his grave.
• If 39...Qc1+ drops a pawn to 40.Kh2 fxe5 41.Qxe5 Qc7 42.Qxb5+ , but that's still better than what he's in for now.

BLACK: Ian Nepomniachtchi



WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 39...Ne7g6

40.Nxf6+!

• White is winning.
• Good, but not nearly as effective, is 40.e6+ Kxe6 41.Qxf6+ Kd7 42.Rxd4 Rxd4 43.Qxd4+.

40...Ke6 41.Qh3+!

• White maintains his winning advantage.
• If 41.Qe8+ Qxe8 42.Nxe8 Nxe5 43.Nxd6 Nxd3 44.Nxb5 Ke5 gives Black fair chances of survival.

41...Kxe5 42.Ng4+ Kd5

• 42...Ke6 43.Nh6+ Ke7 44.Nf5+ Kd8 45.Nxd6 wins the exchange.

43.Rd1!

• White will have a much more difficult win after 43.Qf3+ Ke6 44.Qf6+ Kd7 45.Qxf7+ Kc8.

43...Qe8

• Black survives longer after 43...Re6 44.Ne3+ Ke5 45.Qf5+ Kd6 when:
• After 46.Rxd4+ Kc7 White crushes Black with 47.Qxf7+ Re7 48.Nd5+ Kb8 49.Nxe7.
• 46.Qxf7 Ne7 47.Rxd4+ Kc7 48.Kf1 Re5 49.Rd1 White still wins, but it wll take some time longer.

BLACK: Ian Nepomniachtchi



WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 43...Qc6e8

44.Qf3+!

• Please click here.

44...Qe4

• If 44...Kc5 45.Qa3+ then:
• If 45...Kd5 46.Rxd4+ Kxd4 47.Qxd6+ then:
• 47...Kc4 48.Ne3+ Kb3 49.Qa3#.
• 47...Ke4 48.f3+ Kf5 49.Qf6#.
• 45...Kb6 46.Qxd6+ Qc6 47.Qxd4+ Kb7 48.Qd8 leaves White a Rook to the good.

45.Qxf7+ Qe6 46.Ne3+ Ke5 47.Ng4+ Kd5 48.Qb7+ Kc4 49.Rc1+ 1-0

• 49...Kb4 50.Qa7 Ra6 51.Qxd4+ leaves only a carcass for White to chew.
• Ian Alexandrovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Other Games

London
Photo by Diliff in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Howell - Carlsen, London Chess Classic, Round 5

This was a key game in Magnus' stunning come-from-behind tournament victory in London.



Magnus Carlsen
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


David Howell - Magnus Carlsen
Second London Chess Classic, Round 5
London, 12 December 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Adams Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e6 7.g4 Be7

• If 7...d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 then:
• 9.Bd2 Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bg2 Be7 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.c4 0-0 14.0-0 Bb7 givs Black a small edge in space (I. Marks-Reimer, Corres, 1991).
• If 9.Nde2 Bb4 then:
• 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0 Nxc3 12.Nxc3 Qc7 13.Qf3 Bd6 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Ne4 Be5 is equal (Klein-van der Wiel, Op, Gronigen, 2009).
• If 10.Bd2!? Nxc3! then:
• 11.Nxc3 Bd7 12.Qe2 Bc6 13.Rg1 Qc7 14.0-0-0 Nd7 15.Bg2 Bxg2 16.Rxg2 0-0-0 is equal (Gipslis-Geller, Moscow, 1967).
• 11.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 12.Nxc3 Qb6 13.Qd2 Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qa3 15.Bg2 0-0 16.Bxb7 Bxb7 17.Rxb7 Nc6 18.0-0 Rad8 gives Black the initiative (D. Fernández-Shytaj, Arctic Op, Tromsø, 2009).
• If 7...b5 8.Bg2 Bb7 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...b4 10.Nd5! exd5 11.exd5 Be7 then:
• If 12.g5 Nfd7 13.Nc6 Qc7 14.Nxe7 Kxe7 then:
• 15.Qd4 Kf8 16.Bf4 a5 17.Rfe1 gives White a huge advantage in space in compensation for the Bishop (Nakamura-Ninov, French ChT, Evry, 2008).
• 15.Re1+ Kd8 16.Qe2 Nb6 17.Bf4 a5 18.c4 Na6 19.c5 Nxc5 20.Rac1 Qd7 21.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (Delgado-Paulet, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 12.Nc6 Qc7 13.Nxe7 Kxe7 14.g5 Nfd7 15.Re1+ Kf8 16.Qe2 gives White a powerful initiative up the middle (Karjakin-van Wely, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
• If 9...Qc7 10.Re1 Be7 11.a3 then:
• If 11...0-0 12.Be3 Nfd7 13.f4 Nc6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bf2 a5 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 gives White the advantage in space (Conquest-Hunt, British Ch, Canterbury, 2010).
• 11...Nfd7 12.a4 bxa4 13.Nxa4 0-0 14.Be3 Nc6 15.Ne2 Rfd8 16.c3 Na5 17.Qc2 Nc4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Ricbour, French ChTU20, France, 2003).

8.Bg2 Nfd7 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2

• If 10.Qe2 0-0 11.0-0-0 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Qc7 13.f4 Rb8 then:
• If 14.Ba7 Ra8 15.Bd4 then:
• 15...Rb8 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bd4 draw (Priyadharshan-Gupta, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2009).
• 15...Re8 16.g5 b5 17.a3 Rb8 18.h4 b4 19.axb4 Rxb4 is equal (Sandipan-Morozevich, Zürich CC Bicent, Zürich, 2009).
• 14.g5 b5 15.Qd2 b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Be3 exf4 18.Nxf4 Bxg5 is equal (Li Chao-Ashwin, World Jr Ch, Puerto Madryn, 2009).

10...0-0

• 10...Nde5 11.b3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 0-0 13.0-0-0 b5 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.f4 Ng6 16.Rhf1 e5 is equal (Domínguez-Topalov, IT, Sofia, 2009).

11.0-0 Nde5 12.b3 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Ng6

• 13...b5 14.a4 bxa4 15.Nxa4 Bb7 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Bxe5 draw (Svidler-Ivanisevich, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 13...Ne5g6

14.Be3

• The game is equal.

14...Qc7

• If 14...b6 then:
• 15.f4 Qc7 16.Ne2 Bb7 17.c4 Rab8 18.f5 gives White a slight edge in space.
• 15.Na4 Rb8 16.c4 Nh4 17.Bh1 Bd7 18.Nc3 Qc7 remains equal.

15.Ne2 b5 16.c4 bxc4

• 16...Bb7 17.Rac1 Qd7 18.Nf4 Nh4 19.Bh1 remains equal.

17.Rac1 Bb7 18.Rxc4 Qd7 19.Rfc1

• 19.Nd4 Rac8 20.Rcc1 Rfd8 21.Qd3 Bf6 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 remains equal.

19...Rac8 20.Bb6 Rxc4 21.Rxc4 Rc8 22.Qc2

• 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8 23.Be3 f5 24.f3 fxe4 25.fxe4 Qa8 remains equal.

22...Rxc4 23.Qxc4 Qe8 24.a4

• The players are content to roll the ball back and forth will be for some time more. During this time neither gains so much of an edge that should be flattered with the word advantage.
• If 24.Qd3!? Qa8! 25.f4 a5 26.Be3 a4 then:
• 27.Nc3 axb3 28.axb3 Qa3 29.Na4 Qa1+ 30.Qf1 Qa2 gives Black a slim advantage.
• 27.Ng3 axb3 28.axb3 Qa1+ 29.Kh2 Qa2 gives Black a small advantage in space.

24...Qa8 25.f4

• 25.Qd3!? a5! 26.Be3 Ne5 27.Qc2 Nc6 28.Nc3 Nb4 gives Bl;ack a slight advantage in space.

25...h6 26.Bf2 Bh4 27.Be3

• 27.Bb6 a5 28.Be3 d5 29.exd5 Bxd5 30.Bxd5 exd5 31.Qb5 remains equal.

27...Bf6 28.Qd3 Bc6 29.Ng3 Be7

• 29...Qb7 30.Kh2 Nh4 31.Bh1 d5 32.e5 Be7 33.Bd4 remains equal.

30.Nh5 Bf8 31.Bf2 Qb7 32.Qc4

• 32.Qe3 Be7 33.Qb6 Qxb6 34.Bxb6 Nh4 35.Bh1 remains equal.

32...Ne7 33.Qd3

• 33.Qc2 a5 34.Ng3 Ng6 35.Ne2 e5 36.f5 Ne7 remains equal.

33...d5 34.e5 d4 35.Bf1

• 35.Bxc6 Nxc6 36.Ng3 Na5 37.Qxd4 Nxb3 gives Black a slight and not very dangerous initiative.

35...Bd5

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 35...Bc6d5

36.Qxa6!?

• White either overlooked or underestimated Black's reply.
• 36.Bxd4 Bxb3 37.Qxa6 Qb4 38.Bf2 Bxa4 remains equal.

36...Qxb3!

• When in doubt, take the pawn. --Steinitz.

37.Qd3

• 37.Bxd4 Nc6 38.Bb6 Be7 39.a5 Qf3 40.Qd3 Qh1+ forces the White King out in the open.

37...Qxa4 38.Qxd4 Qa8!?

• Black carelessly throws away his superiority.
• Better is 38...Qa2 39.Ng3 Ng6 40.Nh5 Qc2 41.Qd3 Qc7 when Black has the initiative.

39.Qa7!

• Black must find an effective way to keep the White Queen from inviting the Black Queen to swap.

39...Qc8 40.Qc5

• Like this way.

40...Nc6

• White's Queen tries to find a place where it can be more useful.

41.Qc3!?

• Better is 41.Qb6 Qa8 42.Qa6 Qd8 43.Ng3 Bb4 44.Bb5 Na5 when Black has only a slight edge in space.

41...Qa8!

• The Queen can rush into action from here. Black has a fair advantage.

42.g5?!

• This exposes the Knight along the a5/d1 diagonal.
• Beter is 42.Ng3 Qa2 43.Qe3 Bb4 44.Qd3 Bd2 when Black has a non-lethal advantage in space.

42...Qa4!

• Black immediately heads for d1.

43.Qg3?

• White still had time for 43.Qe3.
• White "only" loses a pawn after 43.Qe3 Qd1 44.Qe2 Qxe2 45.Bxe2 hxg5 46.fxg5 Nxe5 .

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 43.Qc3g3

43...Qd1!

• It's better to sacrifice your opponent's men. -- Tartakover.
• The Knight is trapped.

44.Nf6+

• 44.gxh6 Qxh5 45.hxg7 Bxg7 leaves Black a piece to the good.

44...gxf6 45.gxf6+ Kh8 46.Qd3

• Sadly, there is nothing better.

46...Qxd3 47.Bxd3 Nb4 48.Bb1

• At least here the Bishop keeps Black's King in the back rank. However, with all heavy pieces off the board, Black isn't the least bit worried about a back-rank mate.

48...Ba2 49.Be4 Nd5

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen



WHITE: David Howell
Position after 49...Nb4d5

50.f5

• White could have resigned instead. Any more comment is superfluous.

50...Nf4 51.Kh2 exf5 52.Bxf5 Be6 53.Bg4 Bxg4 54.hxg4 Ne6 55.Kg3 Bc5 0-1

• White remains a piece to the good and White's pawns will fall as a result.
• 56.Be1 Bd4 finishes things off.
• If 56.Bxc5 Nxc5 then:
• 57.Kf4 Kh7 58.Kf5 Ne6 Zugzwang!
• If 57.Kh4 Nd3 58.e6 fxe6 then:
• 59.Kh5 Kg8 60.Kg6 Kf8 61.g5 Nf4+ 62.Kxh6 e5 the Knight is in position to stop the pawns, even if it must sacrifice itself, while Black's pawn is home free.
• If 59.g5 hxg5+ 60.Kxg5 Kg8 61.Kg6 Ne5+ 62.Kh6 Kf7 White's pawn falls, leaving Black's King and Knight free to escort the pawn forward to e1.
• Mr. Howell resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Shirov - Baramidze, Bundesliga, Hamburg, Round 5

Alexei Shirov
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Alexei Shirov (Baden-Baden) - David Baramidze (Hamburg)
Bundesliga 1011, Round 5/Board 1
Hamburg, 11 December 2010

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Breyer Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8

• This is one of the best and most popular methods of meeting the Spanish Main Line. See Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009.

10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.a4 c5 16.d5 c4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 Qc7

• If 18...Nc5 19.Qd2 then:
• If 19...h5 then:
• If 20.Ra3 Nfd7 21.Rea1 then:
• 21...Rb8 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qd1 Bc8 24.Ra7 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 21...Qc7 22.Bh6 Be7 23.Rf1 transposes into the note to White's 23rd move.
• 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Ra3 Rb8 22.Kh1 Nh7 23.Be3 Bf6 24.Rea1 Bg7 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Nf1 gives White a fine game (Inarkiev-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 19...Bc8 20.b3 Re7 21.Bg5 Bg7 22.Qe3 Qf8 23.Qd3 Nh7 24.bxc4 Rb7 draw (Balashov-Smejkal, IT, Leningrad, 1977).

19.Qd2

• 19.Kh1 Bg7 20.Qd2 Kh7 21.Ng1 Nc5 22.f3 Reb8 23.Rf1 Nfd7 24.N1e2 bxa4 25.Bxa4 a5 is equal (Korneev-Kaabi, Op, Paris, 1995).

19...h5

• 19...Kh7 20.Ra3 Nc5 21.Rea1 Bg7 22.Qd1 Nfd7 23.h4 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Bxa8 26.h5 gives White a fair-to=middlin' advantage in space (Popovich-Kovacevich, Serbian ChT, Budva, 2003).

20.Ra3 Nc5 21.Rea1 Nfd7 22.Bh6 Be7 23.Qe2 (N)

• White has a good advantage in space.
• 23.Rf1 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 is equal (Kosteniuk-T. Kosintseva, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchick, 2008).

23...Nb6

BLACK: David Barmidze



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 23...Nd7b6

24.Nxh5!?

• White's plans are oriented to the kingside.
• If 24.axb5 axb5 25.Qd2 then:
• 25...h4 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Rxa8+ Bxa8 28.Nf1 Nba4 29.Qc1 gives White better pieces to compensate for Black's small edge in space.
• If 25...Nca4 26.R1a2 Ra6 27.Bg5 Rea8 then:
• 28.Be3 Nc5 29.Rxa6 Rxa6 30.Rxa6 Bxa6 31.Qc1 gives Black an extra pawn, but White's pieces are better placed.
• 28.Bxa4 Rxa4 29.Bxe7 Qxe7 30.Rxa4 bxa4 31.Qe3 leaves White with a tiny bit more space and a slight initiative.
• If 25...Nba4 26.R1a2 Ra6 then:
• 27.Bg5 Rea8 28.Bxe7 Qxe7 29.Qh6 Nd7 30.Qe3 gives White a small edge in space and better placed pieces.
• 27.Be3 Rea8 28.Ne2 Nb6 29.Rxa6 Rxa6 30.Rxa6 Bxa6 31.Nc1 gives White, whose Knight is headed for b4 and perhaps c6, a slight advantage.

24...Nbxa4 25.Bxa4 Nxa4 26.Ng5!?

• Charicteristically of Shirov, White takes liberties in search of initiative.
• Safer is 26.Ng3 Qd7 when:
• 27.Rxa4 bxa4 28.Qxc4 Qb5 29.Qa2 Rab8 30.Bc1 gives Black an extra pawn, but only momentarily. White, with the opportunity to take it back aforded by Black's poor queenside pawn structure,
• 27.Qc2!? Nc5 28.Be3 Nb3 29.R1a2 is equal.

26...Qd8!

• The game is equal.

27.f4?

• White takes a risk to avoid a draw, but this could have proved way too risky.
• Simpler and safer is 27.h4 Nc5 28.Ng3 Bf8 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.Qe3 Qe7 with equality.

27...Nc5?!

• Black leaves the door open for counterplay by White on the kingside.
• If 27...exf4!! then:
• If 28.h4 then:
• If 28...Nc5! 29.Nxf7 Kxf7 30.Rf1 then:
• 30...Kg8 31.Qg4 Kh7 32.Nxf4 Rg8 33.h5 g5 gives Black an extra piece.
• If 30...Bxh4 31.Nxf4 Rxe4 32.Ne6+ Kg8 then:
• After 33.Qf3 Qe7 34.Bf8 Qe8 35.Bxd6 Rxe6 Black wins.
• If 33.Qxe4 then Black wins easily after 33...Nxe4 34.Nxd8 Bxd8.
• If 28...gxh5? 29.Nxf7 then:
• If 29...Qb6+ 30.Kh1 Rf8 31.Qxh5 then:
• 31...Rxf7 32.Qg6+ Kh8 33.Qxf7 Rg8 34.Qh5 the threat of the discovered checkmate 35.Bf8 can only be met by sacrificing the exchange.
• If 31...Kh7 then 32.Qf5+ Kg8 33.Qg6#.
• If 29...Kxf7 then 30.Qxh5+ Kg8 31.Qg6+ Kh8 32.Qg7#.
• 28.Nxf4?? Bxg5! 29.Bxg5 Qxg5 30.Qf3 Nc5 31.Re1 Re5 wins for Black.

28.Rf1 f6?

• Perhaps over looking White's reply, Black throws away the whole game.
• 28...exf4? also proves to be a loser after 29.Nxf7 Kxf7 30.Qg4 when:
• If 30...Bc8 31.Qxf4+ Bf5 32.Qg4 then:
• If 32...Rh8 33.Rxf5+ gxf5 34.Qg7+ gives White a prohibitve material advantage.
• If 32...Rg8? then White wins after 33.Ng3 Nxe4 34.Qxe4 Qd7 35.Nxf5 gxf5 36.Rxf5+.
• If 30...Qb6?? then 31.Qxf4+ Kg8 32.Qf7+ Kh8 33.Qg7#.
• If 28...Qb6 then:
• If 29.Kh2! then:
• 29...f6 30.Qf3 fxg5 31.fxg5 Rf8! gives Black a well-defended position with excellent winning prospects going forward.
• If 29...exf4? then White wins 30.Qg4 f6 31.Ne6.
• If 29.Nxf7!? then:
• If 29...Nxe4+! 30.Kh2 Bxd5 then:
• 31.Ng7 Rf8 32.Ng5 Nxg5 33.fxg5 Rxf1 34.Qxf1 Rf8 is an easy win for Black.
• If 31.Raa1 Bxf7 32.Ng7 Ng3 33.Kxg3 exf4+ 34.Kh2 Bf8 gives Black two extra pawns with a queenside nmajority.
• If 29...Kxf7!? 30.fxe5+! Kg8 31.Qf2 Rf8 32.Nf6+ Bxf6 gives Black nothing more than fair chances.

BLACK: David Barmidze



WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 29...f7f6

29.f5!!

• The sacrifice of the Knight is the fastest road to victory.
• Slower, but still winning, is 29.fxe5! dxe5 then:
• If30.Qf2 f5 31.exf5 Bxg5 32.fxg6 then:
• If 32...Rf8 33.Qf7+ Rxf7 34.gxf7+ Kh7 35.f8Q Qxf8 36.Bxf8 then:
• 36...Na4 37.Be7 Kg6 38.Bxg5 Kxg5 39.g4 gives White the material advanage and a fierce attack on the enemy King.
• 36...Be3+ 37.Kh2 Kg6 38.g4 Nd7 39.Bd6 gives White the material advanage and a fierce attack on the enemy King.
• 33.Bxf8!? Qxf8 34.Qf5 Be3+ 35.Kh2 Qxf5 36.Rxf5 gives White a small material advanage and a fierce attack on the enemy King.
• 30.Ng7? fxg5!! 31.Nxe8 Qxe8 32.Qg4 Bc8 33.Qg3 Nxe4 34.Qe1 Bc5+ gives Black a material advanage made even greater by the uselessness of White's Bishop at h6.
• 32...Bf4? 33.Qxc5 Rc8 34.Qf2 Qd6 35.Bxf4 exf4 36.Qxf4 gives White three extra pawns and a promising attack on the enemy King.

29...fxg5

• No better is 29...Qb6 30.fxg6 Nd3+ 31.Kh2 fxg5 32.Rf7.

30.fxg6 Nd7

• Black sees the attack coming on f8 and moves to defend, but the effort proves futile.

31.Rf7 Nf8

• If 31...Bf8 then after 32.Qf2 Re7 33.Nf6+ Nxf6 34.Qxf6 further resistance is futile.

32.Qf3!

• White now forces mate.

32...Qb6+

• This check only postpones the inevitable.

33.Kh2 1-0

• If 33...Nxg6 34.Rg7+ Kh8 35.Qf7 then:
• 35...Rf8 36.Rh7#.
• If 35...Nf8 then 36.Rg8#.
• Baramidze resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Wednesday): Nepo wins Russian Championship; Hou leads in Antakya

Nepo Wins Russian Championship



Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Ian Nepomniachtchi won the 63rd Russian National Chapionship today in Moscow by winning a blitz playoff against Sergey Karjakin.

Both Ian Alexandrovich and Sergey Alexandrovich finished the regular 11-round tounament with 7 points (each +4 -1 =6). Ian Alexandrovich's single loss came at the hands of Sergey Alexandrovich. Karjakin went into today's final round leading Neponiachtchi (pronounced nay POM nyach chee) by a half point, but dropped his game with and out of form Vladimir Malakhov in 67 moves while Nepomniachtchi drew with Nakita Vitiugov in 45 moves. Karjakin, formerly from Ukraine and playing in his first Russian Championship, and Nepo, as he is known to his fans, split their first two playoff games, sending the playoff to an Armageddon game with Nepo having Black and the odds of draw. The game ended in a 74-move draw, making Nepo the new Russian champion.

Nepo, who is 20 years old and also the reigning European Champion, establishes himself as the leader of a new generation of Russian masters.


Hou Yifan Leads Women's Championship Final after Three Games

Sixteen-year-old Hou Yifan of China leads her compatriot Ruan Lufei in the final match of the knock out tournament to determine this cycle's world women's chess champion after three of four scheduled games in Antakya (Antioch) in south eastern Turkey.

Ms. Hou won game two yesterday to account for her lead. In today's game, she escaped from an inferior endgame to draw.

Ms. Hou need only avoid loss tomorrow in the fourth and final game under standard time control to become the youngest ever women's champion of chess at just under 16 years and 10 months. Back in pre-Campomanes-and-Kirsan times, when FIDE wasn't corrupt and there were real championship cycles for both men and women, Maia Chiburdanidze of then-Soviet Georgia won the women's title at the age of 17 in 1978 and held the title until 1991.

Starting next year, the women's championship will become an annual event, bringing it down to the level of the world junior championship.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Thursday): Ruan wins, women's championship to be decided by playoff

Ruan Lufei , playing White, defeated the heavily favored Hou Yifan today in Antakya to send the final match of the World Women's Chess Championship to a rapid and blitz playoff tomorrow.

The game took 47 moves. Ms. Ruan, a 23-year-old PhD candidate at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, took 47 moves to win the game. Ms. Hou, 16, made an inferior move just after the game came out of the book and Ms. Ruan immediately dished out punishment to her young opponent, who recovered only briefly.