The JR Chess Report (May 1): Kamsky, Zatonskih win US Championship; Candidates' Matches start Thurs

[Jack Rabbit]

Kamsky repeats as US champ; Zatonskih wins women's title

Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Gata Kamsky won his second consecutive US championship Wednesday and Anna Zatonskih won her fourth US women's title in six years on Thursday as the 2011 US Championships drew to a close in St. Louis, Missouri.

Both champions are natives of the former Soviet Union, as were both runners up and both losing semifinalists in the women's group. Mr. Kamsky, a Crimean Tartar by ancestry, was born in Russia and Ms. Zatonskih is Ukrainian.

Mr. Kamsky defeated Sam Shankland, a sophomore at Brandeis University, in the semifinals 1½-½, and then took on Yury Shulman, one of America's "big four" (Kamsky, Shulman, Hikaru Nakamura and Alex Onischuk), who defeated former high school football star Robert Hess, who soon begins classes at Yale University, in the semifinals. In the finals, Kamsky defeated Shulman in the first game on Tuesday in 57 moves and then played a solid opening on Wednesday that gave Shulman no chances for attack; the game ended drawn after 37 moves, leaving Kamsky as the US champion.

Mr. Shulman got a big consulation during the later stages of the tournament when his wife gave birth to their first child. Mr. Shulman was born in Soviet Belarus and now lives in Chicago.

Ms. Zatonskih, who started the preliminary rounds out of form and needed to win a playoff with Sabina Foisor to qualify for the fourth spot in the semifinals, defeated reigning champion Irina Krush (also a native of Ukraine) in the semifinals. Once again, Ms. Zatonskih had to win a rapid playoff to advance. The playoff was held Monday. The two women split their first two game, bringing the event to a rapid Armageddon resolution. Ms. Zatonskih had Black, which gave her odds of draw although she started with less time. Ms. Zatonskih won a hard-fought battle in 69 moves, with the winning position feature a Black pawn at b2 and King at a3 and White's King at b1 and no other pieces or pawns on the board for either side. This is a book win for Black.

Meanwhile, Tatev Abrhamyan, a scrappy and aggressive player who was born in Yerevan, Soviet Armenia, and now lives in Glendale, California, split two games with veteran Camilla Baginskaigte, who was born in Vilnius, Soviet Lithuania, and now lives in Souix Falls, South Dakota, with her husband, grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky and their two children. This also precipatated a rapid playoff on Monday. Ms. Abrahamyan won both games and no Armageddon game was needed.

In the women's final, both of the regular games were drawn, setting up Thursday's rapid playoff for the women's title. Ms. Zatonskih won the first game as Black in 61 moves, but Ms. Abrahamyan bounced back and checkmated Ms. Zatonskih on the 74th move of the second game, bringing up yet another rapid playoff. Ms. Zatonskih won the right to play Black by bidding only 20 minutes, meaning that she had odds of draw while Ms. Abrahamyan as White began with 45 minutes on her clock. However, Ms. Abrahamyan played the opening poorly and Ms. Zatonskih solidified her position and drew easily.


Candidtes' Matches begin in Kazan Thursday

Luigi Versaggi, Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The candidates' matches to determine the official challenger to reigning world champion Vishy Anand begin Thursday in Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tartarstan, Russia.

The pairings for the quarterfinal matches are as follows:

Veselin Topalov - Gata Kamsky
Vladimir Kramnik - Teimour Radjabov
Levon Aronian - Alexander Grischuk
Boris Gelfand - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

The winners of the quarterfinal matches (four games) will advance to the semifinal matches and then to the final matches. The matches are scheduled to run through May 26 and can be followed on the official website.


Asian Championships start Tomorrow in Iran

Argooya in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The tenth annual Asian Contenental Championships begin tomorrow in Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

There will be two groups, one general and one women's. The top seed in the general group Uzbek grandmaster and former FIDE knock-out champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov and in the women's group Indian IM Dronavalli Harika. World women's champion Hou Yifan of China is competing in the general competition.

The games will begin at 3 pm local time (3:30 am PDT). Games may be followed on the official tournament website. The festivities end on May 10.

Mashhad is city holy to Shi'ite Islam. It was the home of Imam Ali ar-Riza, a Shi'ite martyr of the eighth and ninth centuries AD (second century AH).


COMING ATTRACTIONS

European Women's Championship, Tblisi 7-18 May.
Biel Chess Festival 18-29 July.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

The JR Chess Report theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra)

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.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.

BLACK



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


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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. US Championships, Semifinal and Final Rounds, St. Louis

Gateway Arch, St. Louis
Photo by Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Kamsky - Shulman, Final Match, Round 1

Gata Kamsky
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Gata Kamsky - Yury Shulman
US Championship, Overall Final Match, Round 1
St. Louis, 26 April 2011

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.0-0 Nc6

• For moves and variations up to here, see Anand-Topalov, World Ch M, Sofia, 2010.

7.dxc5

• If 7.Ne5 Bd7 8.Na3 cxd4 9.Naxc4 then:
• If 9...Bc5 10.Qb3 0-0 then:
• If 11.Qxb7 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Rb8 13.Qf3 Bd6 14.Nc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6 Qe7 then:
• 16.Qa4 e5 17.Rb1 h6 18.Bd2 Bb4 is equal (Laznicka-Werle, EU Op, Liverpool, 2008).
• 16.Rb1 h6 17.e3 Bc5 18.exd4 Bxd4 19.Qc4 Rfd8 20.b3 draw (Eljanov-Adams, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• If 11.Bf4 Qc8 then:
• If 12.Rac1 Nd5 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Ne5 Nxe5 then:
• If 15.Bxe5 Bb6 then:
• 16.Rcd1 Ne7 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.e3 e5 19.exd4 exd4 20.Rd2 Nc6 21.Qa4 Rad8 22.Rfd1 Qe6 23.b3 is equal (Deep Fritz-Nimzo B, Computer Ch, Cadaques, 2001).
• 16.Rfd1 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rd8 22.e4 Kf8 23.exd5 Ke7 24.Kg2 Kd6 25.Kf3 Rc8 26.Rd2 Re8 27.Kf4 Re5 28.h4 h5 29.f3 f6 30.g4 g5+ 31.Kg3 hxg4 32.Kxg4 gxh4 33.Kxh4 draw (Kharlov-A. Sokolov, Zonal, St. Petersburg, 1993).
• 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Rxc5 Nc6 17.Rxd5 Qe6 18.Rb5 b6 19.Rc1 Rac8 is equal (Tregubov-Morozevich, Russian Ch, Orel, 1992).
• If 12.Rfd1 Rd8 13.Rac1 Nd5 then:
• If 14.Nxf7 Kxf7 15.Ne5+ Nxe5 16.Bxe5 b6 17.Qf3+ Kg8 18.Qg4 g6 19.Be4 then:
• 19...Be8? 20.b4!! Nxb4 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Qxe6+ gives White a winning position
• 19...Bc6 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 gives Black a small advantage.
• 14.Nd3 Bf8 15.Nce5 Nxf4 16.Nxf4 Qc7 17.Nfd3 Rac8 18.Nxd7 Rxd7 19.Qa4 Rdd8 20.Rc4 Qb6 21.Rdc1 Ne7 22.Rb4 Rxc1+ 23.Nxc1 Qc7 24.Rc4 Qb8 25.Rxd4 b5 26.Qd1 draw (Korchnoi-A. Sokolov, World Cup, Brussels, 1988).
• 9...Rc8 10.Qb3 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rd1 c5 14.e3 Bd6 15.exd4 c4 16.Qc2 0-0 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 is equal (V. Georgiev-Ivanchuk, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qd3 then:
• If 9...Rc8 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nc3 then:
• If 11...b4 then:
• If 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 then:
• If 13...Ne7 14.Ne5 Bb5 15.Be3 then:
• If 15...0-0 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Nd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7 then:
• 19...Rfd8 20.Qd3 Rxd7 21.Qxd7 g6 22.Rd1 a5 23.Bf3 Qc7 24.Kg2 Qxd7 25.Rxd7 Nc6 26.Bxc6 draw (Haba-Volodin, Op, Pardubice, 1994).
• 19...a5 20.Rad1 Nd5 21.Qd3 Nf6 22.Rd4 draw (Plachetka-I. Stohl, IT, Ostrava, 1994).
• 15...Qb6 16.Bxc5 Rxc5 17.Rad1 0-0 18.Nd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7 Nd5 20.Qd3 Nf6 21.Rb7 gives White the initiative (Gulko-Renet, IT, Paris, 1986).
• 13...0-0 14.Rd1 Qe7 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bh3 Nd8 17.Be3 Bc6 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Bxe6+ gives White an extra pawn and more activity (I. Sokolov-Skripchenko, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• 12.Nb5 0-0 13.Nd6 Nd4 14.Bf4 Nd5 15.Ng5 g6 16.Nge4 Nxf4 17.gxf4 Bb6 18.Rfd1 Rc7 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Palatnik-Vladimirov, Soviet Ch semif, Irkutsk, 1983).
• If 11...Nb4 12.Qd1 Bc6 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.Bg5 then:
• 14...Be7 15.a3 Na6 16.Ne5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 h6 18.Bf4 Nd5 19.Nxb5 gives White the active game (Avrukh-Moiseenko, IT, Maalot-Tarshiha, 2008).
• 14...h6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Rfc1 Bb6 17.Ne1 Bd7 18.a3 gives White stronger pawns (Haba-Enders, Op, Chemnitz, 1997).
• If 9...c4 10.Qd1 Rc8 11.b3 then:
• 11...Be7 12.a4 a6 13.axb5 axb5 14.bxc4 bxc4 15.Ne5 Nd5 16.Bxd5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 exd5 18.Qxd5 Bh3 gives Black a slight edge with greater development and a double attack (Stefanova-Li Ruofan, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• 11...cxb3 12.axb3 Qb6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Ng4 15.e3 Nxe5 16.Bb2 f6 17.Bxe5 fxe5 18.Qh5+ gives White a small advantage with stronger pawns and the initiative, but Black has an extra pawn (Dizdar-Bauza, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

7...Qxd1 8.Rxd1 Bxc5 9.Nbd2 c3 10.bxc3 0-0

• If 10...Bd7 11.Nb3 Be7 12.Nfd4 then:
• 12...Nxd4 13.cxd4 Nd5 14.Nc5 Bc6 15.Bb2 Rc8 16.e4 Nf6 17.Rac1 gives White a full pawn center and an active Knight (Speelman-Kunin, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).
• 12...0-0-0 13.Be3 Ne5 14.c4 Ba4 15.Rab1 Rd7 16.Rdc1 Nfg4 is equal (Jussupow-A. Sokolov, It, Linares, 1989).
• 12...0-0 transposes into the text.

11.Nb3 Be7 12.Nfd4 Bd7 13.Nxc6

• If 13.Bg5 Rfd8 then:
• 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nc5 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bc8 17.e3 Rb8 18.Rac1 gives White the active game (Cernousek-Bernasek, Op, Brno, 2006).
• 14.Nb5 Nd5 15.Bxd5 Bxg5 16.Bg2 Be7 17.Nd6 Bxd6 18.Rxd6 Be8 19.Rad1 Rxd6 20.Rxd6 Rc8 is equal (Kaidanov-Kholmov, Soviet Ch otbor, Pinsk, 1986).

13...Bxc6 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.c4 a5 16.Bd2

• If 16.Be3 a4 17.Nd4 Rfc8 18.f3 Bc5 19.Kf2 then:
• 19...Bxd4!? 20.Bxd4 c5 21.Be3 Rab8 22.Rac1 gives White a slight edge (Wojtaszek-Stern, Euro Rpd Ch, Warsaw, 2010).
• 19...Rab8 20.Rab1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Nd7 22.Nc2 gives White command of the b-file.

16...a4 17.Na5 Ra6 (N)

• 17...Rfc8 18.Rab1 Kf8 19.f3 Ra7 20.Bc3 Nd7 21.Kg2 Ke8 22.Rb7 Rxb7 23.Nxb7 f6 is equal (Yermolinsky-Gelfand, Soviet Ch 1st L, Sverdlovsk, 1987).

18.Rab1

• The game is equal and the symmetrical pawn structure promises little to either side.

18...Rfa8!?

• It is not terribly important to chase the Knight from the a-file.
• Better is 18...Rd8! 19.f3 Ne8 20.Bc3 Bc5+ 21.Kf1 Nd6 22.Kg2 is equal.

BLACK: Yury Shulman



WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 18...Rf8e8

19.Nb7

• White has a slight advantage in space, but the space added by White's Knight is merely formal. The Knight is immoble.

19...Kf8!?

• Black should not try to move the King to the center for he has provided for the defense of his pawns.
• If 19...a3 20.Bb4 then:
• 20...Bf8 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.Nc5 continues to give Black a slight advantage in space.
• If 20...Bxb4 21.Rxb4 then:
• 21...Kf8 22.Nc5 Ra5 23.Nb3 Ra4 24.Rd8+ gives White a small advantage.
• If 21...Rb8 then:
• 22.Nd8 Rba8 23.Kg2 c5 24.Rb3 h6 25.Nb7 gives White the initiative and command of open files.
• 22.Rd8+!? Rxd8! 23.Nxd8 h6 24.f3 Nd7 25.Rb7 limits White to a slight advantage.
• If 19...c5?! 20.Rb5 Rc6 21.Kg2 then:
• 21...Ne4 22.Be1 a3 23.Ba5 gives White much greater activity, although Black is peventing him from using d6.
• 21...Rac8 22.Ba5 Ng4 23.Nd8 Bxd8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Bxd8 gives White a strong advantage from which he should win a pawn.

20.Be3!

• White has a fair advantage in space.

20...Ne4

• If 20...Rb8 21.Kg2 a3 22.Nc5 then:
• 22...Raa8 23.Rxb8+ Rxb8 24.Rd3 gives White the initiative against White's a-pawn.
• 22...Rxb1?! 23.Rxb1 Ra8 24.Rb6! Rc8 25.f3 gives White a much more active game.
• 21.f3 e5 22.h3 Raa8 23.Rb6 Ke8 24.Rdb1 gives White command of the open file.

21.Rd3 Rb8 22.Bf4 Rba8 23.f3!

• The text is better than 23.Kg2 a3 24.Rbb3 when 24...Ra4 25.c5 Bf6 26.Kf3 g5 27.Be3 g4+ 28.Kg2 still gives White a slight advantage.

23...Nc5 24.Nxc5 Bxc5+ 25.Kf1 Ke8!?

• The text gives White a small advantage with command of two open files.
• 25...a3 26.Rbb3 Ke8 27.Be5 g6 28.Bf6 is equal.

26.Be5!?

• The attck on the g-pawn is easily refuted. A better idea is to encroach more deeply into Black's territory and hinder his mobility.
• If 26.Bd6 Rb6 27.Rxb6 Bxb6 28.c5 Bd8 29.Rd4 yields a very drawish position.
• 24...Nc5 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.Rd7 R6a7 27.Rbb7 gives White a small advantage with a Rook on the seventh rank.

BLACK: Yury Shulman



WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 26.Bf4e5

26...g6!

• This is the simplest and best way to keep from losing a pawn.
• 26...f6?! 27.Bd6! Rb6 28.Rbd1 Bxd6 29.Rxd6 gives Black a strong advantage.

27.Bf6 Rb6 28.Rxb6 Bxb6 29.Ke1!?

• If 29.Rd6 Bd8 then:
• 30.Bc3 Ra6 31.e4 a3 32.Ke2 gives White a slight advantage with the active Rook.
• 30.Bxd8 Rxd8 31.Rxd8+ Kxd8 is a hopelessly drawn King and pawn ending.

29...Bc5

• The game is equal.

30.Kd2 Rb8 31.Kc2 Be7 32.Bc3 f5

• 32...Rb7 33.g4 Bb4 34.Be5 f5 35.g5 remains equal.

33.Rd1 Bc5 34.h3 h5 35.g4 hxg4!?

• Black is not fully prepared for this move. In order to counter White's aggression on the kingside, he should be ready to bring his Rook there.
• If 35...Rb7! (putting the Rook on the meeting of the crossroads where two navigable line meet) 36.gxh5 gxh5 then:
• 37.Be5 Rb4 38.Kc3 a3 39.Bd4 Bf8 remains equal.
• 37.Re1 Kd8 38.Be5 Ke7 39.e4 fxe4 40.Rxe4 Bd6 remains equal.
• 35...Ke7! 36.gxh5 gxh5 37.Be5 Rb4 38.Kc3 then:
• If 38...Rb7 39.e4 Kf7 40.Kc2 then:
• 40...Kg6 41.Rd8 fxe4 42.fxe4 Rf7 43.Rg8+ Kh7 also remains equal.
• 40...Be7 41.Bc3 a3 42.Rg1 Bf6 43.e5 remains equal.
• 38...a3? drops a piece to 39.Bd4! Bd6 40.c5.

BLACK: Yury Shulman



WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 35...hg4:p

36.hxg4 fxg4 37.fxg4 Rd8 38.Rb1!

• Now it is White who has a Rook on the crossroads with a better game.

38...Kd7

• If 38...Rd6 then after 39.Rh1 e5 40.Rh7 Bd4 41.Rg7 gives White a strong advantage.

39.Rb7+

• White has a strong advantage with a Rook on the seventh rank, while Black's Rook is bottled up behind its own King.

39...Kd6 40.Rg7 Rh8 41.Rxg6!?

• The pawn couldn't run away and White shouldn't be in such a hurry to take it.
• If 41.Bf6! then:
• 41...Bg1 42.Bg5 Bd4 43.Be7+ wins the pawn and leaves White in a strong position.
• 41...Be3 42.Rxg6 Rh3 43.g5 Rg3 44.a3 gives White an extra pawn and gives White a passer that will be hard and costly to stop.

41...Rh2 42.Kd2 Rh3 43.Rg8 Rg3 44.Kc2?!

• 44.Rd8+ Ke7 45.Ra8 Rxg4 46.Rxa4 Kd6 47.a3 gives White a small advantage.

44...Be3?

• Black fails to find the saving line.
• If 44...Re3! 45.g5 Rxe2+ 46.Kd3 then:
• 46...Re3+! 47.Kd2 Rg3 48.g6 Be3+ 49.Ke2 Bh6 50.Be1 Rg2+ 51.Kf3 Rxa2 is equal and a likely draw.
• If 46...Rg2!? then White wins after 47.g6! Rg3+ 48.Ke2 Rxc3 49.g7 Re3+ 50.Kd2.

BLACK: Yury Shulman



WHITE: Gata Kamsky
Position after 44...Bc5e3

45.Rd8+!

• White finds a quick way to put his Rook on an active square and wins.

45...Ke7 46.Rd3 Bf4 47.Bb4+

• 47.Rxg3 Bxg3 48.Kd3 Kf7 49.Ke4 Bh4 50.Bd4 also wins as Black cannot effectively blockade White's passer and protect his own pawns.

47...Kf6 48.Rxg3 Bxg3 49.Kb2!

• White finsds the most direct route to victory.

49...Kg5 50.Ka3 Kxg4 51.Kxa4!

• White's a-pawn is passed and there is nothing Black can do to impede its progress.

51...Bf2 52.c5! Kf4

• 52...Bh4 53.Ka5 Bd8+ 54.Ka6 Kf5 55.Kb7 e5 56.Kc8 drives away the Bishop.

53.Ka5 Ke3 54.Kb6 Kxe2 55.Kxc6 Kd3 56.Kb5 Kd4

• 56...Bg3 57.c6 Bb8 58.a4 e5 59.a5 e4 60.a6 wins as in the next note.

57.a4 Kd5 1-0

• After 58.a5 Bg3 59.a6 Bb8 60.c6! White wins by advancing one pawn in order to deflect the Bishop and then queening the other pawn.
• Mr. Shulman resigns without waiting for Mr. Kamsky to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Abrahmyan - Zatonskih, Women's Final Match Rapid Playoff, Game 1

Anna Zatonskih
Photo by Frank Hoppe from Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Tatev Abrahamyan - Anna Zatonskih
US Ch Women's Final Match Rapid Playoff, Game 1
St. Louis, 28 April 2011

Closed French Game: Advance Opening

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 Nh6 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Bb2 Bd7 10.g4 Nfe7 11.Nc3 Na5

• For moves and variations up to here, see Movsesian-Werle, Bundesliga 1011, Baden-Baden, 2010.

12.Qc2

• 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.h4 Be7 15.g5 0-0 16.Rg1 Nxh4 is equal (Potkin-Hug, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 dxc4 14.Nd2 Qc6

• 14...Nd5 15.Nxc4 Qc6 16.Ne4 Nb6 17.Ncd6+ Bxd6 18.Nxd6+ Ke7 19.Qxc6 Bxc6 20.Rg1 gives White a beautiful Knight at d6, but also a bad Bishop (Alekseev-S. Ivanov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).

15.Nce4 c3

• 15...Nc8 16.Nxc4 b5 17.Ne3 Qxc2 18.Nxc2 Bc6 19.f3 Nb6 20.Kf2 Be7 21.h4 0-0 22.g5 Na4 23.Rab1 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Sveshnikov-Can, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

16.Bxc3 (N)

• 16.Nd6+ Kd8 17.Nxf7+ Ke8 18.Nd6+ Kd8 19.Nf7+ etc. draws (Sveshnikov-Radjabov, Keres Mem Rpd, Tallinn, 2004; Konokenko-Dalmatov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

16...Nd5

• The game is equal.

17.0-0 h5!?

• Black should do more to restrain the advance of the g-pawn or render the advance harmless.
• If 17...Rc8 18.Rfc1 Nf4! 19.Re1 h5 then:
• 20.Qd1 hxg4 21.Qxg4 Nh3 22.Kg2 Rh6 23.Qf3 g5 remains equal.
• 20.g5!? Nh3! (this advance is now harmless) 21.Kh1 Nxf2 22.Kg2 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 Be7 gives Black greater mobility, largely owing to the pin at e4.

18.g5!

• White has a slight advantage in space.

18...Rc8

BLACK: Anna Zatonskih



WHITE: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 18...Ra8c8

19.Rac1!?

• White leaves the a-pawn unguarded when an attack is imminent.
• If 19.Qd3 Nxc3 then:
• 20.Rfc1 Ne2+ 21.Qxe2 Qxc1+ 22.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 23.Kg2 gives White a small advantage owing mainly to a better center; using the relative value of the pieces proposed by Larry Kaufman in 1999, White has a material advantage worth about three-quarters of a pawn.
• 20.Rac1?! Qb5! 21.Rxc3 Qxd3 22.Rxd3 Bb5 23.Rf3 Bxf1 wins the exchange for Black.

19...Nf4!?

• Black fails to take advantage of White's false move.
• If 19...Qa6! then:
• If 20.g6 then:
• 20...Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Qxa3 22.Nde4 Rh6 23.gxf7+ Kxf7 gives Black a small advantage with the Bishop pair over the Knight pair.
• If 20...Nf4 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 then:
• 22.Kh1 Ne2 23.Rce1 Nxc3 24.Nxc3 Qxa3 25.Nde4 Kg8 gives White the Bishop pair over the Knight pair, but her queen is awkawadly placed and White has a better center.
• 22.Rfe1 Rh6 23.Ng5+ Kg8 24.Qe4 Nd3 25.Qf3 Bc6 gives White the advantage with command of the f7 square.
• If 20.Nc5?! Bxc5 21.bxc5 Nf4! then:
• If 22.f3 22...Ne2+ 23.Kf2 Ba4 24.Qa2 then:
• 24...Bb5 25.Qb3 Nxc1 26.Rxc1 0-0 gives Black the adavantage in material and King safety; White has more space.
• 24...Nxc1 25.Rxc1 Bc6 26.Qc4 Bb5 27.Qb3 0-0 is an elaborate transposition.
• 22.Rce1!? Ne2+! 23.Kg2 Ba4! 24.Nb3 Nf4+ gives Black a comfortable advantage.

20.Kh1?!

• White makes a prophylactic move in anticipation of 20...Ne2. He should have prevented the move.
• If 20.Rfe1 Qa6 21.Nb3 Bb5 22.Nbc5 Bxc5 23.bxc5 is equal.

20...Ne2!

• Black wins the exchange.

21.Qd3 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Be7

• 22...Qb5 23.Qf3 Bc6 24.h4 Bd5 gives Black a material and spatial advantage; White's center has been neutralized and her King is not as safe as before.

23.f3 Qd5 24.Rg1

• 24.h4 Bc6 25.Kh2 Bb5 then:
• If 26.Qe3 then:
• 26...b6 27.Kg3 Rc7 28.Ra1 Bc6 29.Rc1 Ba4 gives White a strong advantage.
• If 26...Qa2?! 27.Ra1! then:
• 27...Qd5! 28.Rc1 b6 transposes to the main line of this variation.
• 27...Qc2?! 28.d5 Qd3 29.Qxd3 Bxd3 limits Black to a slight advantage.
• 26.Qc2 Qc6 27.Nc5 0-0 28.Qd1 a5 29.a4 Qd5 gives Black a huge advantage with more space, command of open lines and the Bishops.

24...g6?!

• Black plays on the wrong flank.
• If 24...b6! 25.h3 Qb5 26.Qe3 Bc6 27.Rg2 Qa4 gives Black a material advantage and command of open lines.

25.Qe3!?

• Now it is White's turn to fail to take advantage.
• If 25.Nd6+! Bxd6 26.exd6 Kf8 27.Ne4 Bc6 28.Rc1 h4 is equal.

25...Qa2

• If 25...Ba4 26.Rc1 h4 27.Nd6+ Bxd6 28.exd6 Kf8 29.Ne4 is equal.

BLACK: Anna Zatonskih



WHITE: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 25...Qd5a2

26.d5!

• The pawn sacrifice assures White of equality.

26...Qxd5!

• This is the best way to take the pawn; the second best way is to decline the sacrifice.
• 26...Kf8 27.d6 Bd8 28.Bd4 b6 29.h4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 26...exd5? loses to 27.Nd6+! Bxd6 28.exd6+ when White wins a piece.

27.Nd6+

• The game is equal.

27...Kf8 28.Nxc8 Bxc8 29.Ne4

• If 29.Qxa7 Kg7 30.Qe3 Rd8 then:
• 31.Ne4 31...b5 32.Nd6 Kg8 33.Qf4 Bb7 34.Qxf7+ Kh8 remains equal.
• 31.Rc1!? Qd3! 32.Qxd3 Rxd3 33.h4 Bd7 gives Black a slight advantage with the Bishops in a reasonably open center and a more active Rook.

29...Bd7

• If 29...Kg7 30.Bd4 b6 31.Rc1 Bb7 32.Rc7 Bd8 remains equal.

30.Nd6

• If 30.Bd4 then:
• 30...a6 31.Rd1 Bc6 32.h4 a5 33.bxa5 Qxa5 remains equal.
• 30...Bc6 31.Bxa7 Kg7 32.Bb6 Qa2 33.Bd4 Ra8 remains equal.
• 30...b6!? 31.Rc1! h4 32.Rc7 Bc6 33.Kg2 gives White a small advantage with the aggressive Rook.
• 30.Nf6 Bxf6 31.exf6 Bc6 32.Kg2 Kg8 33.h4 Kh7 remains equal.

30...Bc6 31.Rf1 Kg7

• If 31...Qb3 32.h4 a6 33.Qf4 Rh7 34.Qc1 remains equal.

32.Rf2!?

• White leaves the back rank unguarded.
• If 32.Bd4! b6 33.h4 Ra8 34.Qf4 Be8 35.Rc1 then:
• 35...Rd8 36.Rc2 Kg8 37.Rd2 Qb3 38.Bb2 Bc6 is equal.
• 35...Kf8!? 36.Rc2 Rb8 37.Kg2 Rd8 38.Rd2 gives White a slight advantage in space.

32...Qb3!?

• Black loses a tempo.
• If 32...Qd1+ 33.Kg2 h4 then:
• 34.Rd2! Qc1! 35.Bb2 Qb1 36.Qf4 h3+ 37.Kf2 Rf8 gives Black a slight advantage.
• 34.Rf1!? h3+ 35.Kf2 Qd5! 36.Qf4 Rf8 37.Rg1 Bd8 gives Black a comfortableadvantage, but she is a long way from victory.

33.Qf4?!

• White threatens mate, but it only helps Black solidify her defense.
• If 33.Bd4 Qd1+ 34.Kg2 h4 35.Rf1 h3+ 36.Kg1 Qc2 is equal.

33...Rf8!

• Black takes time out from her initiative to do something White threat of mate on f7. White must do something about Black's threat to the a-pawn. After that, Black is able to generate threats faster than White.

34.Bd4 b6?!

• White misses a piece sacrifice that would have been quite profitable.
• If 34...Bxg5!! 35.Qxg5 Bxf3+ then:
• 36.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 37.Qg2 Qxa3 38.Qxb7 a5 39.bxa5 Qxa5 gives Black the material advantage and active threats on White's exposed King.
• 36.Kg1 Qd1+ 37.Rf1 Qxd4+ 38.Rf2 Bc6 39.b5 Bd5 gives Black two extra pawn and open lines for her pieces to attack the White King.

35.Kg2?!

• White overprotects her f-pawn and neglects the a-pawn which has no protection.
• If 35.Bb2! Kg8 36.h4 Bd8 37.Kh2 b5 38.Kg3 Bb6 is equal.

35...Qxa3!

• Black wins a pawn.

36.Rc2?

• Here Black makes her fatal error. Istead of tying to disrupt Black's game by attacking hanging pieces, she should just hunker down and defend on the kingside.
• If 36.h4 Qd3 37.Ra2 a5 then:
• 38.Rd2 Qb1 39.b5 Bxb5 40.Rb2 Qf1+ 41.Kg3 Bd3 gives Black only a small advantage in space.
• If 38.bxa5?! bxa5 39.Rd2 Qb3! then:
• 40.Rb2 Qd1 41.Rd2 Qc1 42.Bb2 Qb1 43.Bc3 Qb6 gives Black a passed pawn and greater mobility and activity.
• If 40.Bb2? then Black wins after 40...a4! 41.Rf2 a3!!.

BLACK: Anna Zatonskih



WHITE: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 36. Rf2c2

36...Bxg5!!

• Black proffers her Bishop.

37.Qg3

• The proffered prelate cannot be accepted.
• If 37.Qxg5 then Black wins immediately after 37...Qxf3+! 38.Kg1 Qh1+ 39.Kf2 Qxh2+.

37...h4 38.Qg4 Bd5 39.b5 Qd3 40.Rf2

• If 40.Qxg5 then Black wins easily after 40...h3+ 41.Kf2 Qxc2+ 42.Ke1 Qxh2 43.Bg1 Qh1.

40...Be7 41.h3

• If 41.Bb2 then Black destroys White's defense after the pawn sacrifice 41...h3+!! 42.Kxh3 Rh8+ 43.Kg2 Rh4 44.Qg3 Rb4.

41...a6!?

• Black misses an opportunity to wrap the game up sooner.
• If 41...g5! 42.Bb2 Kg6 43.Qd4 Qxd4 44.Bxd4 Rd8 gives Black pawn majorities on both wings.

42.bxa6! Qxa6 43.Qf4

• If 43.Be3! (preventing the advance of the g-pawn) 43...f5 44.exf6+ Bxf6 45.Ne4 Bxe4 46.fxe4 b5 keeps White in the game.

BLACK: Anna Zatonskih



WHITE: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 43.Qg4f4

43...Qd3!!

• The proposed sacrifice of the passed pawn gives Black a winning advantage.

44.Be3

• The b-pawn is not poisoned and should be taken.
• If 44.Bxb6! g5 45.Qg4 f6 46.exf6+ then:
• 46...Kxf6! 47.Qd4+ Qxd4 48.Bxd4+ e5 49.Ne4+ Ke6 Black should win as long as she makes the best moves.
• 46...Bxf6?! 47.Ne4! Kg6 48.Rd2 Qc4 again gives White drawing chances.

44...g5!

• White stregnthens her grip on the kingside and forces an exchange of Queens.

45.Qd4

• Any other move immediately loses a piece.

45...Qxd4 46.Bxd4 Rb8!

• White must now divert resources to stopping the b-pawn.

47.Rb2 Kg6 48.Rxb6 Rxb6 49.Bxb6

• White's pieces are completely out of position.

BLACK: Anna Zatonskih



WHITE: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 49. Bd4b6:p

49...f5!

• As things are, Black will win with a passed h-pawn.
• The text wins faster than 49...f6 50.Bd4 f5 51.Kf2 g4 52.fxg4 fxg4 53.hxg4 Kg5 when Black will have a more difficult time sheparding the pawn to the promised land.

50.Kf2

• Of course, the en passant capture loses immediately.
• If 50.Nc8 Bf8 then:
• 51.Kf2 g4 52.fxg4 fxg4 53.hxg4 Kg5 54.Nd6 Kxg4 55.Ne8 Kf5 wins as White's last pawn falls.
• If 51.Bd8 Kh5 52.Ne7 then:
• If 52...Bxe7!! 53.Bxe7 g4! 54.Kf2 Bxf3 55.Bb4 Be4 then:
• 56.Kg1 gxh3 57.Kh2 Kg4 58.Bc3 f4 59.Be1 Bg2 one of Black's pawns will queen.
• 56.Bd2 gxh3 57.Kg1 Bg2 58.Be3 Kg4 59.Bd2 Kf3 wins for Black.
• 52...Bb7!? 53.Ng8 Bc5 54.Bc7 Kg6 55.Nf6 Kf7 gives Black a huge advantage, but no immediate win.

50...Bc6

• Black wins after 50...g4! 51.fxg4 fxg4 52.hxg4 Kg5 53.Ne8 Kxg4.

51.Be3 Bd5 52.Bd4

• If 52.Ne8 then Black wins after 52...Bd8 53.Bd4 Bc6 54.Nd6 Kh5.

52...Bd8!?

• Black misses 52...g4 53.fxg4 fxg4 54.hxg4 Kg5 55.Ne8 Kxg4.

53.Ne8! Ba5 54.Nf6 Bc6 55.Bb2

• White will hang on longer after 55.Ng8! Bb4 56.Nf6! Bb5 57.Kg2 Bf8 58.Bb6 Be7.

55...Bd2!?

• This gives White a narrow opening for draw chances.
• Better is 55...Bb6+ 56.Kg2 Bc5 57.Ba1 Be3 58.Bc3 Ba7.

56.Bd4 Bf4 57.Bb2 Bg3+ 58.Ke2?

• This considerably shortens White's agony.
• If 58.Kg2 then 58...Bb5 59.Ba1 Kf7 60.Nh5 Be1 61.Bd4 Bc4 still gives Black the advantage, but the win is not a piece of cake.

BLACK: Anna Zatonskih



WHITE: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 48.Kf2e2

58...Bb5+!

• White is forced to abandon the pawn.

59.Ke3

• 59.Kd2 Bf1! 60.Bd4 Bxh3 61.Nd7 g4 gives Black two connected remote passers.

59...Bf1!

• White's h-pawn cannot be saved.

60.Bd4 Bxh3 61.Ke2 Bg2! 0-1

• White cannot stop the h-pawn.
• If 62.Bf2 then 62...Bxe5 63.Nd7 Bf4 64.Bd4 h3 65.Kf2 g4 a pawn will promote.
• Ms. Abrahamyan resigns.