Chess News for the Week Ending July 16: Special Bastille Day Edition

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending July 16



Contents:

Post 1: News of the week
Post 2: Games from recent events
Post 3: A Bastille Day Tribute to a Fabled French Resistance Fighter and Chess Player




Liberty Leading the People (1830) by Eugène Delacroix
From the website of the University of Southern California

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the Week Ending July 16

Carlsen and Agdestein Tie for Norwegian Championship

Defeding champion Simen Agdestein, the only person ever to represent his country in both the Chess Olympiad and the football's World Cup, and 15-year-old Magnus Carlsen have tied for the Norwegian Championsip at the end of the scheduled nine rounds in Moss, about 150 miles southeast of Oslo.

Both players finished with 7 points in nine game; each won 6 games, lost one and drew two. Agdestein's lone loss came at the hands of Carlsen in the seventh round; Carlsen lost in the ninth round on Saturday to Berge Østenstad, who finished in third place with 6 points, while Agdestein defeated Øystein Hole to force a playoff.



Simen Agdestein (rear) and Magnus Carlsen

Photo Budstikka (Norway)

It is the second year in a row that the young chess whiz and the former soccer star, one of Norway's most recognizable and popular celebrities, have been forced into a playoff to determine the national championship. Last year, it was Agdestein who defeated Carlsen in the regulation tournament. Agdestein then won the playoff in six games.



Agdestein playing football for Norway's national team, c. 1990
Photo:ChessBase.com

Agdestein, 39, is playing for his fifth Norwegian national championship. Carlsen, who thought to be at the dawn of an illustrious career in international chess and is expected to win many national championships, is going for his first.

Susan Polgar wins Women's World Cup

Former women's world champion Susan Polgar, the oldest of the famous Polgar sisters and an American citizen, won the Women's World Cup last week by defeating Germany's Elisabeth (Elli) Pähtz in a short match in Dresden.



Fräulein Pähtz (facing camera) congratulates Ms. Polgar on her victory
Photo: ChessBase.com

The two ladies drew the first game of the mini-match and Ms. Polgar won the second in 77 moves to secure the tournament championship.

The event began with eight four-player divisions playing a round robin; the top two players of each division moved on to a single-elimination tournament. In order to reach the final round, Ms. Polgar defeated Argentina's Carolina Lujan and Fräulein Pähtz scored a victory over Marie Sebag of France.

Scheveningen Tournament underway in Taiyuan, China

A tournament in a Scheveningen format, where each player from two teams play each other is underway in Taiyuan, China, with teams representing China and the rest of the world.

The six-player team from China is comprised of 1 Ni Hua, Bu Xiangzhi, 16-year-old Wang Hao, Zhang Pengxiang, Wang Yue and Zhang Zhong. The rest of the world is represented by Baadur Jobava of Georgia, Russia's Artyom Timofeev and Dmitry Jakovenko, Karen Asrian of Armenia, Hungarian Ferenc Berkes and Giovanni Vescovi of Brazil.

At the half-way point in the match, China leads with 16½ to 13½.

US Grandmaster Aleks Wojtkiewicz Dies

Aleks Wojtkiewicz, a Latvian-born grandmaster who later lived in Poland and has played for the United States for the last four years, died of liver failure Friday in Baltimore. He was 43.

Only ten days before his death, Mr. Wojtkiewicz tied for first place with eight other players in the World Open in Philadelphia with 7 points out of nine.

He was considered to be at the top of his game at the time of his passing.




Aleks Wojtkiewicz
Photo from the website of the 2005 World Open

Aleks Wojtkiewicz vs. Hana Itkis
US Championship, Round 1
San Diego, March 2006

Queen's Gambit: Slav Defense (Chameleon Variation)

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 a6

The move 4. -- a6 initiates the Chameleon Variation, a fairly new line in master play. Heretofore, the main line of the Slav after 4. e3 has been 4. -- dxc4 5. Bxc4 b5.

5. Bd3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. 0-0 e6 9. e4 Nbd7 10. a4 Qb6 11. Nc3 b4

Also playable is 11. -- c5 12. axb5 cxd4 (but wrong would be 12. -- axb5?, after which 13. Rxa8+ Bxa8 14. Bxb5 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Bd6 16. Qa4 goves White and extra Pawn and an annoying pin on Black's Knight at d7) 13. Na4 Qd6 14. bxa6 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Nxd4 Qxa6 and a balanced position.

12. a5 Qc7 13. Ne2 c5 14. Bf4 Qc6 15. Ng3

If 15. e5 Nd5 then:

• 16. Be3 Be7 17. Re1 (or 17. Qc2 Rc8 18. b3 h6 19. Rfd1 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Bg5 with Black having a spatial superiority on the Queen's wing and White in the center) 17. -- Rd8 18. Qc2 Nxe3 19. fxe3 cxd4 20. Qxc6 Bxc6 21. Nexd4 Bxf3 22. Nxf3 and an equal game; or
• a balanced position results from 16. Qc2?! 16. -- Be7 17. Bg3 (or 17. Be3 Rc8 18. b3 h6 19. Rfd1 Nxe3 20. fxe3 Bg5) 17. -- Rc8 18. Rfc1 h6 19. Bh4 Bxh4 20. Nxh4 0-0.

15. -- Be7 16. Re1 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Qc5 18. Nb3 Qa7 19. Rc1 0-0

19. -- e5? gives White a strong position after 20. Be3 Qb8 21. Qf3 g6 (or 21. -- 0-0 22. Nf5 Qd8 23. Nxe7+ Qxe7 24. Nc5 Bc8 and White's pieces have more mobility) 22. Bh6 Qa7 23. Rc7 Rc8 24. Rxc8+ Bxc8 when not only does White have better control of open lines, but Black's King is caught in the center.

20. Rc7 Rfd8 21. Qe2 Ne8 22. Rc4 Nef6

The equibrium is maintained by 22. -- Rac8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rd1 Ndf6 (or 24. -- Qa8 25. Bc2 Nf8 26. Nd4 Ng6 27. Be3 Bd6 28. f3) 25. Bg5 h6 26. Bf4 Qa8 27. Bc2 Rd8 28. Rxd8 Qxd8.

23. h4 Rac8 24. Rec1?!

The move is dubious; perhaps it is made with the intent to create complications.

Also in that mode is 24. Bc7?! Rf8 25. Rec1 Qa8 (bad for Black is 25. -- Rfe8? 26. Nf1 Rf8 27. Nh2 Qa8 28. Nf3 Ne8 29. Rd4 Ne5 30. Bxe5 Rxc1+ 31. Nxc1 and White's centrally-posted pieces are dominating the position) 26. Bb1 (or 26. e5?! Nd5 27. Bd6 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 Bxd6 29. exd6 Qb8 and Black will win the d6 Pawn at her leisure) 26. -- Ne8 27. Qe1 Nxc7 28. Rxc7 Rfd8 29. Rxc8 Rxc8 30. Rd1 with a small advantage for White.

The safe line, reaching equality, is 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rd1 Qa8 26. Bc2 (or 26. Qe1 Nc5 27. Nxc5 Bxc5 28. Qe2 b3 29. Be5 Be7 30. Bd4 Rd8) 26. -- Nc5 27. Rd4 Ne8 28. h5 Nxb3 29. Bxb3.

Again, White isn't playing for a draw. Safe lines don't win too many games.

24. -- Qa8

If 24. -- Rxc4 then:

• 25. Bxc4 Qa8 26. Bd3 Ne8 and now:
• 27. Qh5? allows Black to get a strong game with 27. -- Rc8 28. Rxc8 Qxc8 29. Bg5 (or 29. e5 g6 30. Qe2 Bxh4 and Black has won a Pawn) 29. -- Bd6 30. Bb1 Bxg3 31. fxg3 Nc5 and Black is threatening White's suddenly weak e-Pawn;
• Correct is 27. h5! after which White has an equal game: 27. -- Bf6 28. Rc4 Be5 29. Qd2 Bxf4 30. Qxf4; or
• 25. Rxc4 25. -- Ne8 26. h5 Qa8 27. Qc2 (but not 27. Nd4? e5 28. Ndf5 exf4 29. Nxe7+ Kf8 30. Ngf5 Ne5 and Black will win either the e-Pawn or the exchange) 27. -- Bf8 (or 27. -- h6 28. Be2 Bh4 29. Rxb4 e5 30. Be3 and a level game) 28. Be2 Rc8 29. Rxc8 Bxc8 30. Bd3 e5 31. Be3 with equality.

25. e5 Rxc4 26. Rxc4 Nd5

26. -- Ne8 27. Be4 Bxe4 (or 27. -- Rc8 28. Bxb7 Qxb7 29. Rxc8 Qxc8 30. h5 +=) 28. Nxe4 Bxh4 29. Rxb4 Nf8 (or ) 30. Nec5 Ng6 31. Nxa6 Be7 -/+29. -- Nc7 30. Rc4 Nd5 31. Bh2 =+

27. Bg5

26. -- Ne8 gives Black a strong position after 27. Be4 Bxe4 (better than 27. -- Rc8 28. Bxb7 Qxb7 29. Rxc8 Qxc8 30. h5 with a small advantage for White) 28. Nxe4 Bxh4 29. Rxb4 Nf8 (better than 29. -- Nc7 30. Rc4 Nd5 31. Bh2 with equality) 30. Nec5 Ng6 31. Nxa6 Be7 when her pieces are better posted. Possible continuations are:

• 32. Bd2 Bxd4, winning the exchange;
• 32. Ra4 Qd5 33. Qc2 Nxf4 34. Rxf4 Qxe5 and Black is two Pawns up;
• 32. Re4 is equivalent to the last variation after 32. -- Qd5;
• 32. Bc1 Bxb4 33. Nxb4 Rb8 34. Bd2 Nf4 35. Bxf4 Rxb4 and White must loose another piece, with result that Black is an exchange up.

27. -- Rc8 28. Rg4 Qb8 29. Bxe7 Nxe7?

Black loses.

If 29. -- Nxe5 then:

• 30. Bxb4? is bad for White: 32. Bxa6 Rc6 33. Nh5 g6 34. Be2 Qxb4 35. Nf6+ Kh8 36. Nxd5 Qxg4 37. Bxg4 exd5 38. Bd1 and Black, an exchange up, should be able to stop White's Pawn and advance her own) 32. -- Nxc3 33. Nh5 g6 34. Nf6+ Kg7 and Black will soon be ahead by a whole Rook;
• 30. Bg5! leads to equality after 30. -- Nxg4 31. Qxg4 g6 (White even gets a strong game after 31. -- Rc6?! 32. Qe4 g6 33. Qe2 Qc8 34. Qe5 Qc7 35. Qxc7 Rxc7 36. Ne4 when White's minor pieces are poised to attack) 32. Qe2 Nf4 33. Bxf4 Qxf4 34. Ne4 Rc7.

30. Rxb4!

The text is better than 30. Nh5?! g6:

• 31. Rxb4? gxh5 32. Qxh5 Ng6! (but Black would slip by 32. -- Nf5? 33. Bxa6 Bxa6 34. Rxb8 Rxb8 35. Nd4 Nxd4 36. Qg4+ Kf8 37. Qxd4 Ke8 38. b4 when White's Queen and connected passed Pawns trump Black's Rook and two minor pieces) 33. Bxa6 Rc7 34. Qg5 (or 34. Bf1 Qd8 35. Rg4 Rc2 when Black has a strong position with a Rook on the seventh and the Bishop on the long diagonal) 34. -- Kh8 35. Nd4 Ngxe5 and Black is a piece to the good, but White has counterplay;
• the correct move is 31. Nf6+ which leads to a level game after 31. -- Nxf6 32. exf6 Nd5 33. Bxa6 Bxa6 34. Qxa6 Nxf6.

30. -- Nc6

White has a superior position after30. -- Nxe5 31. Bxa6 Bxa6 32. Rxb8 Bxe2 33. Rxc8+ Nxc8 34. Nxe2 and now:

• 34. -- Nc4 35. a6 Nxb2 36. Ned4 Na7 37. Na5 Kf8 (or 37. -- e5 38. Ndc6; 37. -- Na4 38. Ndc6 Nxc6 39. Nxc6 Nb6 40. a7 and the Pawn paralyzes the Knight) 38. Nac6 and White's chances of either coronating or winning a piec look very good;
• 34. -- Nd3 35. Nc3 Nxb2 36. Nb5 and the Pawn will continue to advance.

31. Rxb7!!

The exchange sacrifice is better than 31. Rc4?! Ndxe5:

• 32. Rc3? Nxd3 33. Rxd3 Ne5 34. Rc3 Ng6 35. Nc5 (or 35. h5 Rxc3 36. bxc3 Nf4 and Black has a strong initiative) 35. -- Nxh4 and Black has an extra Pawn;
• 32. Rc1 32. -- Nxd3 33. Qxd3 Ne5 34. Rxc8+ (or 34. Qd4 Rxc1+ 35. Nxc1 Qc7 36. Nb3 and a level game) 34. -- Qxc8 35. Qd4 f6and equality.

The text move allows White to keep the inititive and quickly win back the exchange with interest.

31. -- Qxb7 32. Bxa6 Qxb3

Also losing is 32. -- Qc7 33. Bxc8 Qxc8 34. Ne4 Ncxe5 (or 34. -- Ndxe5 35. h5 Qd8 36. a6) 35. a6. White is now two Pawns up -- connected passed Pawns, no less.

33. Bxc8 Ndxe5

No better for Black is 33. -- Nc5 34. a6 Qb8 35. Bb7 Nxb7 36. Qb5 Nxe5 (or 36. -- Qd8 37. axb7 Nb8 38. Qc5) 37. axb7

34. a6 Qa4

All is futile for Black: 34. -- Kf8 35. Bb7 f6 36. h5 Nd4 37. Qd2 Qb6 38. b4 (or 38. h6 g5 39. Be4 Ng4 40. Bxh7 Nxh6) 38. -- Ke7 39. Qc3 Nb5 40. Qc5+.

35. Bb7 Qa1+

White's connected passed Pawns give him t least a strong position after 35. -- g6 36. Qd2:

• 36. -- Nd4 37. h5 f6 38. b4 Qa1+ 39. Kh2 Kf7 40. f4 (or 40. Ne2 Nf5 41. Ng3) 40. -- Ng4+ 41. Kh3;
• 36. -- f6 37. h5 Nd4 38. b4 Qa1+ (or 38. -- Ndc6 39. f4 Nf7 40. Ne4 Kg7 41. Qc3 +/-) 39. Kh2 Kf7 40. hxg6+ hxg6 41. Ne2+-

36. Nf1 Qa4 37. g3

All roads lead to a White victory: 37. Qe3 Qa5 38. Qa3 (or 38. Qd2 Qb5 39. Qd6 h6 40. f4 Qb6+ 41. Kh2 Nf3+ 42. Kg3) 38. -- Qb6 (or 38. -- Qxa3 39. bxa3 Na7 40. a4 g6 41. Nd2 h5 42. Nb3 Nc4 43. Nd4) 39. Qd6 h5 (or 39. -- g6 40. b4 h5 41. Ng3 Kh7 42. Ne4 Kg7 43. Nc5 Kh7 44. Bxc6 Nxc6 45. Qf8) 40. b3 g6 41. Ne3 Kg7 42. Nc4 Nxc4 43. bxc4.

37. -- g6 38. Kg2 Nd7 39. Nd2 Nc5 40. b3 1-0

If 40. -- Qa3 then 41. Bxc6 wins a Knight. Ms. Itkis resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from Recent Events

Sergei Rublevsky
Photo ChessBase.de (Germany)

Sergei Rublevsky vs. Pentela Harikrishna
International Grandmasters' Tournament, Round 7
Foros, Ukraine, June 2006

Spanish Sicilian Game: Moscow Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. 0-0 Ngf6 5. Re1 e5 6. c3 Be7 7. d4 0-0 8. h3 a6 9. Bf1 b5 10. d5

The position is perfectly level.

10. -- Ne8

Equality is also maintained by 10. -- Bb7 11. b3 Qa5 (or 11. -- Re8 12. a3 Rb8 13. Nbd2 Nb6 14. c4 bxc4 15. Bxc4 Nfd7) 12. a3 Bd8 (or 12. -- Rfe8 13. Bb2 Rab8 14. Nbd2 Bd8 15. Be2) 13. Bb2 Re8 14. c4.

11. a4 Rb8

Nothing becomes unbalanced by 11. -- b4 12. cxb4 (or 12. c4 Nc7 13. b3 Bb7 14. Qc2 Bf6 15. Be3) 12. -- cxb4 13. Qb3 (13. b3 Bb7 14. Bb2 f5 15. Nbd2 Nc7 16. Bc4) 13. -- Qa5 (13. -- f5 14. exf5 Qa5 15. Be2 Nc5 16. Qd1 Bxf5 17. Nbd2) 14. Bd3 Nc5 15. Qc4 f5.

12. b3 Nc7 13. Na3

The players would still be balanced: 13. axb5 axb5 14. b4 c4 15. g4 (15. Be2 f5 16. Nfd2 Bb7 17. Bf3 fxe4 18. Nxe4 Bxd5) 15. -- Bb7 16. Bg2 Ra8 (16. -- f6 17. Re2 g6 18. Ra7 f5) 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Qc2.

13. -- Kh8 14. Nc2 g6

It's still a level game with 14. -- bxa4 15. b4

• 15. -- f5 16. exf5 Nf6 (but not 16. -- Bf6?!, when 17. Ra2 Nb6 18. c4 e4 19. Nd2 gives White a strong advantage) 17. bxc5 Nfxd5 18. cxd6 Bxd6 19. Bg5 Qd7; or
• 15. -- Nb5 16. Bd2 Qc7 (16. -- cxb4 17. Nxb4 Bb7 18. Qxa4) 17. Rxa4 Bf6 18. Qa1 Re8.

15. Bh6 Rg8

The equilibrium is not to be disturbed: 15. -- Re8 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 (or 17. Be3 Ba6 18. Qd2 Ra8 19. b4 c4 20. Be2) 17. -- c4 18. Na3 Ra8 19. Qe2 Bb7 20. Qd2 Bf8 21. Bg5 Be7.

16. Ne3

There's still not much to work with after 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 (or 17. Be3 Nf6 18. Bxc5 dxc5 19. Nxe5 Qe8) 17. -- c4 18. Qe2 Bb7 19. Qe3 g5.

16. -- Bf8 17. Bxf8 Qxf8 18. axb5 axb5 19. Ra7

The position is still even after 19. b4 Ba6 (or 19. -- c4 20. Qc2 Bb7 21. Ra7 Nb6 22. Be2 Nc8 23. Ra5) 20. bxc5 Nxc5 21. Qc2 Qh6 22. Ng4 Qg7.




19. -- Bb7 20. Qa1 Ra8?

Finally, an error. Black could have maintained a level position even gotten an insignificant edge with 20. -- Nf6 21. Qa5 Qe7 (but not 21. -- Qc8 22. Nc2 Rd8 23. Na3 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Nxa8 25. Bxb5 when White's Queen and Bishop threaten Black's position from the Queen's wing) 22. Qb6 Na8 23. Qxb5 Nxe4 24. Bd3 Nf6.

21. Rxb7!!

The Queen sacrifice is well played. Wrong would be 21. Rxa8?!, when 21. -- Qxa8 22. Qxa8 Rxa8 23. Bd3 f6 restores the balance.

21. -- Rxa1 22. Rxa1 c4

White emerges with a Rook and three minor pieces for the Queen. Black is suddently quite lost. 22. -- Qd8 23. Raa7 Nb6 24. Rxc7 Rf8 25. Bxb5 also wins for White.

23. Rxc7 cxb3 24. Rxd7 Qc8 25. Rxf7 Rg7

Also futile for Black is 25. -- b2 26. Raa7 Rg7 27. Rxg7 b1Q 28. Rxh7+ Kg8 29. Rag7+.

26. Rxg7 Kxg7 27. c4 bxc4 28. Nxc4 1-0

Black's Pawn is easily stopped. Harikrishna resigns.




Joanna Dworakowska
Photo: ChessBase.com

Joanna Dworakowska vs. Thomas Bryn
Midnight Sun Open, Round 4
Tromsø, Norway, June 2006

Epine Dorsal: Open Royal Game (Scotch Opening)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5

This opening, very popular in the middle and late nineteenth century, had been dormant in master play for a hundred years until Kasparov starting using it about 15 years ago. It's enjoyed a revival since.

Another option for Black is 4. -- Nf6 , with the following possibilities:

• 5. Nc3 Bb4 (or 5. -- Bc5 6. Be3 Bb6 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. e5 Bxe3 9. fxe3 Nd5 10. Nxd5 cxd5 11. Qxd5 Qh4+) 6. Nxc6 bxc6; or
• 5. Nxc6 5. -- bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4

5. Nxc6

White can also play 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Bc4.

5. -- Qf6 6. Qd2 dxc6 7. Nc3 Ne7

Also still in the realm of opening theory is 7. -- Be6 8. Na4 Rd8 9. Bd3 Bd4 10. 0-0.

8. Na4 Bd6 9. f4 b5

The game is level and remains so after 9. -- Ng6 10. g3 0-0 11. Bg2 (or 11. e5 Qe6 12. Be2 Be7 13. 0-0 Rd8 14. Qe3 Qh3) 11. -- Rd8 12. Qe3 (or 12. Qc3 Qe7 13. Qf3 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 Be6) 12. -- Be7 13. 0-0 a6 (or 13. -- Bg4 14. h3 Bc8 15. Nc5) 14. e5 Qf5 (but 14. -- Qe6? would give White superior command of open lines 15. f5 Qxe5 16. fxg6+-) 15. Nc3 Qh5 16. Bf3 Qh3.

10. Nc3 Bc5 11. Bd3 0-0 12. Qe2

The balance is also maintained by 12. e5 Qh6 13. Ne4 Bb6 14. Qe2 Nf5 15. c3 Rd8 16. Bd2 Qe6 17. Bc2. White has more space in the center; Black is compensated with space on the Queen's wing and a safer King position.

12. -- Qg6 13. Be3 Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Qxg2!?

At least Black appears willing to take some risks. The equalibrium is not greatly disturbed by 14. -- b4 15. Na4 f5 (or 15. -- Qxg2 16. 0-0-0 Qh3 17. Qxh3 Bxh3 18. Rhg1) 16. 0-0 fxe4 17. Bxe4 (or 17. Qxe4 Qxe4 18. Bxe4) 17. -- Bf5 18. Bxf5 (or 18. Rae1 Nd5 19. Qf3 Rad8 20. Nc5 Rfe8.) 18. -- Nxf5 19. Qf2 Rad8 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Rxd1.

The text move sends the Queen Pawn hunting and runs the chance that White will use the open lines to attack Black's castled King. Of course, a Pawn is a Pawn and Black picks up two of them in this series of moves.

15. Rg1

The Queen excursion is not as dangerous as all that. White could maintain equality with 15. 0-0-0 Qh3 16. Qg3 (or 16. Qxh3 Bxh3 17. Rhg1 b4 18. Na4 Ng6 19. f5 Nf4) 16. -- b4 17. Ne2 Rd8 18. f5 Qxg3 19. hxg3.

The text move is more agressive and seeks to hit the Black Queen and then the King position.

15. -- Qxh2 16. 0-0-0 Ng6

My partner, Fritz, who does most of the heavy analysis, says that Black has a strong advantage. That's only because Black is temporarily two Pawns to the good. Computers are sooo materialistic. I think White already has some compensation for the little guys.

Nevetheless, as I interpret Fritz, he agrees that White should get something out of this: 16. -- Qh6 17. Rh1 Qe6 18. Rdg1 f5 (bad for Black is 18. -- b4? 19. Nb1 h6 20. Qg3 Ng6 21. f5 and White has firm command of the lines leading to Black's castled King) 19. Qh3 h6 20. Qxh6 Qxh6 21. Rxh6 fxe4 22. Bxe4 Rxf4 and Black's King is no long safe; in this position, Black will have to give back at least one of his extra Pawns and find someway to get his King under cover.

17. Ne2 Qh4 18. Rh1 Qe7?!

Black would do a little better with 18. -- Qf6 19. e5 Qe6 20. Kb1 Rd8 21. Qf3 h6. White is now pretty much compensated for the Pawns he lost several moves back.

19. Nd4 a6 20. Qf3 c5?

Black wasn't lost until now. In his defense, a good move was hard to find:

• 20. -- Bd7 21. Nf5! (or 21. e5?! c5 22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Bxf5 Rad8 and a level game) 21. -- Qb4 22. Qh3 h6 23. Nxh6+ gxh6 24. Qxh6+ and Black's King should prepare to say his prayers;
• 20. -- Be6 21. Nf5 (or 21. f5?! Qg5+ 22. Rd2 Bd7 23. fxg6 fxg6 24. Qe2 c5 25. Nf3 Qf4 and equality) 21. -- Bxf5 22. exf5 and Black must lose material;
• 20. -- Qc5 21. e5 Bg4 (or 21. -- Qxd4 22. Rxh7 Kxh7 23. Bxg6+ and Black loses his Queen) 22. Qxg4 Qxd4 23. Bxg6 Qe3+ 24. Kb1 fxg6 25. Qe6+ and things look pretty grim on the castle walls.

However, 20. -- Qd6 leads to a balanced position and most likely a half-point: 21. e5 (or 21. Ne2 Qe7 22. e5 h6 23. Rdg1 Be6) 21. -- Qd5 22. Be4 (or 22. Qh5 h6 23. Bxg6 fxg6 24. Qxg6 Qf7) 22. -- Qxa2 23. Nxc6 (or 23. Nb3 Be6 24. f5 Bxb3 25. fxg6 Qa1+ 26. Kd2 Rad8+) 23. -- Re8 24. Qh5 h6 25. f5 Nf4.

21. Nf5! Qf6

No better is 21. -- Bxf5 22. exf5 Ne5 (or 22. -- c4 23. fxg6 cxd3 24. gxh7+) 23. f6 Nxf3 24. fxe7.

22. e5 Qb6 23. Ne7+!!

This spiffy sacrifice diflects the Knight from the defense of the King position.

23. -- Nxe7

If he just wants to get it over with, there's 23. -- Kh8 24. Rxh7+ Kxh7 25. Qh5#.

24. Bxh7+!

White must be careful: 24. Qh5? h6 25. Be4 Rb8 26. Rdg1 f5 and the attack is kaput and the sacrificed material doesn't return.

24. -- Kh8 25. Bg6+ Kg8 26. Rh8+ Kxh8 27. Qh5+ Kg8 28. Qh7# 1-0

Black has been checkmated.

Ms. Dworakowska won 5 games and scored 6 points out of 9 games in Tromsø. If I am not mistaken, this is the best performance by a woman in a general tournament with this level of opposition this year.




Sergei Shipov
Photo: 2001 Ano Liosia Open Tournament

Kjeitil Lie vs. Sergei Shipov
Midnight Sun Open, Round 9
Tromsø, Norway, July 2006

French Defense: Advance Attack

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5

The advanced Pawn is not as much a bone in Black's throat as was thought three-quarter of a century ago when Nimzovich recommneded it and scored many successes with it. It fell into disuse during an era just before and after World War II when the French Defense was in vogue owing to Botvinnik's use of it; as White, Botvinnik would invariably play the Tarrasch Attack (3. Nd2) and as Black he would, when White played 3. Nc3, just as invariably play the Winawer Variation (3. -- Bb4).

Having been in disuse for several decades, the Advance Attack is making a small comeback in master play. Nevertheless, it should be noted that unlike most openings, where early lines are usually considered slightly favorable to White, in this opening they are considered slightly favorable to Black. This is because White's Pawn at e5 is the center of attention and it is White's responsibility to defend it. This will allow Black to enjoy more initiative than usual in the opening.

As usual, when Fritz tells me that the early position is slightly favorable to one side, I will call it equal. Perhaps it's because of that long period of Soviet hegenomy in the sport, but we chess players are very Orwellian. We can talk about an equal positions, but the reader should be aware that some equal positions are more equal than others.

3. -- c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. 0-0 Nxd4 9. Nbd2 Ne7

The Black-favoring equal position is maintained by 9. -- Bc5 10. Nxd4 Bxd4 11. Qe2 Ne7 12. Nf3 Bc5.

10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Nf3 Qa4 12. b3

If 12. Be3 Bc6, then:

• The balance is kept by 13. Nd4 Qb4 (or 13. -- Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Ng6 15. f4 Bc5 16. g3) 14. Qe2 Ng6 15. a3 Qe7 16. f4;
• The position also remains equal by 13. Qxa4 Bxa4 14. b3 Bc6 15. Rfd1 a5 16. Rac1;or
• 13. a3 13. -- Qg4 14. Nd4 Qxd1 15. Raxd1

12. -- Qa5

If 12. -- Qg4, then:

• 13. h3 Qh5 14. Kh2 (or 14. Qe2 Rc8 15. Bb2 Ng6 16. Bb5 Be7 17. Bxd7+ Kxd7 or 14. Re1 Nc6 15. Bf4 Nb4 16. Be2 Qf5 17. Bg3 =+) 14. -- f6 15. Bb2 fxe5 16. Nxe5 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 Nc6;
• Black gets a strong advantage by 13. Ng5 13. -- Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Ng6 15. Bb2 Rc8 16. g3 Be7 17. h4 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 f6 when he has command of the c-file and other open lines.

13. Bd2 Qd8 14. b4

The game is perfeftly level after14. Rc1 Nc6 15. Qe2 Rc8 16. Rfd1 Ba3 17. Rc3 Nb4 18. Bg5 Qa5 19. Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. Bb5+ Nc6.

More interesting variations arise from 14. Qe2 Rc8 15. Rfd1 (or 15. Rac1 Rxc1 16. Rxc1 Nc6 17. Bc3 Be7 18. Rd1 Qb6 19. Bb1) 15. -- Nc6 (or 15. -- Ng6 16. Rac1 Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Ba3) 16. Rac1 Ba3 17. Rc2 0-0 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg6 20. h4 and now:

• 20. -- Nxe5 21. h5+ Kf6 22. Nh7+ Ke7 23. Rxc8 Qxc8 24. Nxf8 Kxf8 25. Qxe5 is unclear;
• 20. -- Qb6 21. Qd3+ f5 22. h5+ Kh6 23. Qg3 Be7 24. Nxe6+ g5 25. hxg6+ is quite clear and Black should want no part of it (he will soon be mated);
• 20.-- Qe7 21. Qd3+ f5 22. exf6+ Kxf6 23. Qf3+ Ke5 24. Qg3+ and White, being down piece, forces a draw by repitiion by checking on f3 and g3.

Wild, huh?

14. -- Ng6 15. g3 Be7 16. h4 f6 17. Re1 0-0

A perfectly level position comes from 17. -- Rc8 18. a3 0-0 19. exf6! (or 19. Bxg6 hxg6 20. exf6 gxf6 21. Bh6 Re8 22. Qd3 may slightly favor Black) 19. -- Bxf6 20. Rc1 Rxc1 (or 20. -- Qe7 21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. Ne5 Rxc1 23. Qxc1 Bxe5 24. Rxe5 again may slightly favor Black) 21. Qxc1 Re8 22. Bxg6 hxg6.

18. exf6 Bxf6

This is better than 18. -- Rxf6?! 19. Bg5 Rxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxg5 21. hxg5 Qxg5 22. Qe3 (or 22. Rad1 Ne5 23. Qe3 Qxe3 24. Rxe3 Nxd3 25. Rexd3) 22. -- Qxe3 23. Rxe3 with an equal game that really is.

19. Ng5 Bxg5

Taking the Rook is playable for Black, but not particularly good: 19. -- Bxa1?! 20. Qh5 20. Qxg5! 21. Bxg5 Bc3 22. Rd1 Bxb4 and the game is still equal, but more equal in White's favor than Black (or so Fritz says).

Black would lose if, instead of the defensive sacrifice of the Queen (20. Qxg5!), he were to panic and play 20. h6? as seen in these variations: 21. Qxg6 hxg5 22. Qh7+ Kf7 23. Rxa1 gxh4 (or 23. -- Rh8 24. Bg6+ Ke7 25. Bxg5+ Kd6 26. Qxg7+-) 24. Bg6+ Kf6 25. gxh4 with the idea of 26. Bg5+.

20. Bxg5 Qb6 21. Qd2 Rf3 22. Re3 Raf8 23. Rxf3 Rxf3 24. Kg2?

This is the losing move. 24. Bxg6 hxg6 25. Be3 Qa6 26. Bd4 Rd3 27. Qf4 Qc4 28. Qb8+ Kh7

24. -- Ne5 25. Bf1 d4 26. b5 Qc5 27. Rd1 d3 28. Bf4 Ng4 29. Be3 Rxe3 30. 0-1

All that's left is 29. -- Rxe3 30. fxe3 Nxe3+ 31. Kh1 Nxd1 32. Qxd1 Bxb5 and:

• 33. Qe1 d2 34. Qxd2 (or 34. Qxe6+ Kf8 35. Qg4 Qd5+) 34. -- Bxf1; or
• 33. Bg2 33. -- Qc2.

Lie resigns.




Elli Pähtz and Susan Polgar
Elli Pähtz Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)
Susan Polgar Photo: ChessBase.com

Elli Pähtz vs. Susan Polgar
Women's World Cup, Final Match/Game 1
Dresden, July 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Accelerated Dragon Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 0-0 8. Bb3 a5

A satisfactory game for both players also follows from 8. -- d6 9. f3 Bd7 10. 0-0 Qc7 11. Qd2 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bc6.

9. 0-0 d6 10. f3 Bd7 11. a4

If 11. Nce2 a4 12. Bc4, the equality results from:

• 12. -- Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qc7 (or 13. -- a3 14. b3 e5 15. Ne2 b5 16. Bd3 b4 +=) 14. Bd3 and now:
  • 14. -- d5 15. a3 (Black get more if White plays 15. Re1?!, when 15. -- dxe4 16. Bxe4 Nxe4 17. fxe4 gives her control of open lines) 15. -- e5 16. Ne2=; or
  • 14. -- a3 15. b3 d5 16. c4 e5=;
• 12. -- Qc8 13. Bd3 and:
  • 13. -- Nxd4 14. Bxd4 a3 (or 14. -- e5 15. Bf2 Be6 16. c4 Qc7=) 15. b3 Qc6 16. c4 Rfc8=; or
  • 13. -- a3 14. b3 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bc6 16. c4.

11. -- Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bc6

The equalibrium is maintained by 12. -- Rc8 13. Qd3 h6 (or 13. -- Nh5 14. Nd5 Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Rc6 16. Rad1 e6 17. Ne3=) 14. Rad1 Bc6 (or 14. -- Rc6 15. Rf2 Nh5 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 +=) 15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 Qxd3 17. Rxd3=

13. Qd2 Nd7 14. Be3 Nc5 15. Bc4

A level game results from 15. Bd5 Bxc3 (or 15. -- Rc8 16. Bxc6 Rxc6 17. Bd4 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 e6) 16. Qxc3 Nxa4 17. Rxa4 Bxa4 18. Bxb7 Rb8 19. Bh6 e5 20. Bxf8 Kxf8.

15. -- Qb6 16. b3 Qb4 17. Bd4 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Nd7 19. Rad1

White's last move is played with the intention of 19. Rad1 and 20. Qd2; if 19. Nd5 then an equal game come from 19. -- Bxd5 (but after 19. -- e5 20. Nxb4 exd4 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Rfd1 c5 23. c3 White is poised to blast open up the center with better contro of open lines) 20. Qxd5 Nb6 21. Qb5 (or 21. Qd4 Nxc4 22. bxc4 e5 23. Qd5) 21. -- Nxc4 22. bxc4 Rac8 23. Rfb1 (23. Rab1!? gives Black a small plus after 23. -- Qxb5 24. Rxb5 Rxc4) 23. -- Qxb5 24. Rxb5.

19. -- Rac8

The game is level.

20. Ne2?!

20. Nb5! Bxb5 21. Bxb5 Qxd4+ 22. Rxd4 Nf6 23. Bc4

20. -- Bxa4!

This move gives Black a slight advantage. If now 21. bxa4?, then White can take charge with Qxc4 22. Qxc4 Rxc4 and then:

• 23. Rd2 Rfc8 24. Rb1 R8c7 25. Nf4 Nf6 (or 25. -- Rxa4?! 26. Nd5 Rac4 =+) 26. Ne2 Rxa4;
• 23. Nf4 23. -- Rxa4 24. Nd5 Re8 25. Ra1 b5 (or 25. -- Rxa1 26. Rxa1 b6 -+) 26. Rxa4 bxa4 -+

21. c3 21. -- Qb6 22. Bxf7+!

Black makes another fine move. Also good for Black is 22. bxa4 Rxc4 23. Qxb6 Nxb6 24. Rb1 Nxa4 25. Rxb7 Re8 (or 25. -- Nxc3 26. Nxc3 Rxc3 -/+) 26. Ra1 Kg7.

22. -- Kxf7 23. bxa4 Rc4 24. Qxb6 Nxb6 25. Rd4 Rfc8

White can get a slight plus from 25. -- Rxd4 26. cxd4 (but not 26. Nxd4?! when Black maintains a solid advantage with 26. -- Rc8 27. Kf2 Rxc3 28. Ra1 Nd7 29. Ne2 Rc4 30. Ra3) 26. -- Nxa4 27. Rb1 b6 28. Kf2 e6 29. Ke3 Rc8 30. Kd3 b5 31. Rxb5.

26. Ra1?

If 26. Rb1 then:

• the game is equal after 26. -- Rxd4? 27. cxd4 Nxa4 28. Rxb7 Rc2 29. Kf1 Nc3 30. Nxc3 (or 30. Rc7 Rxe2 31. Rxc3 Ra2) 30. -- Rxc3=;
• Black is winning after 26. -- Nxa4! 27. Rxc4 Rxc4 28. Rxb7 Nxc3 29. Nxc3 Rxc3 30. Ra7 Ra3 31. Kf2.

26. -- Rxd4 27. cxd4

If 27. Nxd4, then Black wins a Pawn by 27. --Rxc3 28. Kf2 (or 28. Ra2 Nd7 29. Ne2 Rc4 30. Ra3 Nc5 31. Nc3) 28. -- h6 29. Ke2 Nd7 30. Nb5 Rc2+ 31. Kf1 Nc5 32. Na3 -/+

27. -- Rc4 28. Rb1

If 28. d5!? then Black's advantage remains strong after 28. -- Nxa4 29. Kf2 (or 29. Ra2 h6 30. Kf2 b6 31. Ke3 Nc5 32. Rb2 Nd7 33. Kd3)) 29. -- b6 30. Ke3 Nb2 31. Kd2 Rc8 32. Rb1 Nc4+ 33. Kd3 and Black has two connect passed Pawns on the Queen's wing.

28. -- Rb4 29. Rxb4

Black, with her connected passed Pawns moving up, would in winning after 29. Nc3 Rxb1+ 30. Nxb1 Nxa4 31. Kf2 b5 32. Ke3 b4.

29. -- axb4 30. Nc1

Black has a strong advantage.

30. -- Nxa4 31. Nb3 e5

Black is still strong with 31. -- e6 32. Kf2 b5 33. h4 Kf6 (better than 33. -- Nb6?! 34. g4 h6 35. g5 h5 36. Ke3 Ke7 -/+ ) 34. g4 g5 35. hxg5+ Kxg5 36. Kg3 e5.

32. Kf2 exd4 33. Nxd4 Nc5 34. Ke3 Kf6

At this point, Fritz says that Black is winning. While her Queenside Pawns are a big advantage, White's King is more active. I'm not quite as impressed with Black's position as is Fritz. Nevertheless, I'd still rather be playing Black here.

35. Nb5 b3 36. Kd4 b2?

The Pawn is too easily stopped. Regardless of whether Black had a winning position or just a very strong one than only needed a good move or two to convert to a win, this throws it away.

She still would have been in command after 36. -- Na4 37. Na3 b2 38. Kc4 b5+ 39. Kb3 (or 39. Kb4 Ke5 40. Kxb5 Nc3+ 41. Kc4 b1Q 42. Nxb1 Nxb1) 39. -- Ke5 40. Kc2 b4 (however, 40. -- d5?! would have diminished her plus after 41. Nxb5 dxe4 42. fxe4 Kxe4) 41. Nc4+ Kd4 42. Nxb2 Nxb2 43. Kxb2.

37. Na3 b5 38. Kc3!

White has now equalized the game. Black would have remained in charge after 38. Nb1 Na4 39. Nd2 (or 39. h4 h6 40. g4 g5 41. hxg5+ Kxg5 42. Kd5 Kf4) 39. -- Ke6 40. h3 h6 41. g3 h5 42. h4 Nb6.

38. -- Na4+ 39. Kc2 b4 40. Nc4 Ke6

The game is still level 40. -- b3+ 41. Kb1 Ke6 42. Nxb2 Nc3+ 43. Kc1 (or 43. Ka1 d5 44. Nd3 dxe4 45. fxe4=) 43. -- d5 44. Kd2 Nb5 45. Nd3=

41. Ne3 g5

The balnance is maintained by 41. -- b3+ 42. Kb1 g5 43. g3 h5 44. f4 gxf4 45. gxf4 Kf6 46. Nd5+ (but not 46. e5+? when Black gets a winning position by 46. -- dxe5 47. fxe5+ Kxe5 where she can easily eliminate White's Pawns and advance her g-Pawn) 46. -- Ke6

42. g3 Ke5 43. Nc4+ Kd4

If 43. -- Ke6 44. Nxb2? (correct is 44. Kb1 h5 45. h4 g4 46. fxg5 hxg4 47. h5 and a likely draw) 44. -- Nxb2 45. Kxb2 Ke5 46. Kb3 then:

• 46. -- Kd4 47. Kxb4 Ke3 48. Kc4 (or 48. Kb5 Kxf3 49. Kc6 Kxe4 50. Kxd6 Kf3 51. Ke5 g4 52. Kf5 h6 and Black wins) 48. -- Kxf3 49. Kd5 g4 50. Kxd6 Kxe4 and Black wins; or
• if Black returns the favor with46. -- g4?, then 47. f4+ Kxe4 48. Kxb4 d5 49. Kc3 d4+ 50. Kd2 d3 with a probable draw.

44. Nxd6 Ke3 45. e5 Nc5

45. -- b3+? would be a mistake because of 46. Kb1 Nc5 47. Nf7 Kd4 48. Nxg5 and White wins.

46. Nf7 Ne6

The is probably drawn after 46. -- h6 47. Nxh6 Kxf3 48. Kxb2 Kg2 49. h4 gxh4 50. gxh4 Kg3 51. Nf5+ Kf4=

47. h4 gxh4 48. gxh4 48. -- Kf4

If 48. -- Kxf3 then 49. Ng5+ Kf4 (not 49. -- Nxg5? because of 50. hxg5 and White wins) 50. Nxe6+ Kxe5 51. Ng7 (or 51. Nf8 Kf5 52. Kxb2 Kg4 and an easy draw) 51. -- Kf6 52. Ne8+ Kf5 53. Ng7+ Kg6 54. Ne6 Kh5 and a draw.

49. Kxb2 Kf5 50. Kb3 Nd4+ 51. Kxb4 Nxf3 52. Kc5 Nxe5 53. Nxe5 Kxe5 54. h5

The game is drawn after 54. Kc4 Ke4 55. h5 h6 56. Kc3 (or 56. Kc5 Ke5) 56. -- Ke3

54. -- Kf5 55. Kd4 Kg5 56. Ke3 Kxh5 57. Kf2 ½-½

Every endgame manual says that with any Pawn other than an a-Pawn or an h-Pawn, Black would have winning chances. Frln. Pähtz and Ms. Polgar agreed to a draw.




Simen Agdestein
Photo: Stormestergalleriet (Norway)

Simen Agdestein vs. Torstein Bae
Norwegian National Championship, Round 1
Moss, July 2006

Queen's Gambit: Chigorin Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. cxd5 Qxd5 4. e3 e5 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nf6 8. c4 Qd6 9. d5 Ne7 10. a4 Ne4

Also satisfactory for both sides is 10. -- c6 11. Ba3 Qd8 (or 11. -- Qd7 12. dxc6 Nxc6 13. Nf3 Qc7) 12. d6 Qa5+ (or 12. -- Ng6 13. Qb3 Qd7 14. g3 b6) 13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2.

11. Ba3 Nc5

If 11. -- Qf6 12. Nf3 then:

• 12. -- Bf5?! 13. Qb3 b6 14. Bd3 Nc8 15. a5 (or 15. 0-0 Ncd6 16. Bxd6 Nxd6 17. Bxf5 Qxf5 18. a5 with an even game) 15. -- Rb8 16. axb6 axb6 and White has more space in the center, better command of open lines and a safer King; or
• 12. -- 0-0 13. Bd3 Ng5 14. Nxg5 Qxg5 15. Qf3 f5 with an equal game.

12. Ne2 f5?

It is very difficult to point to the Bozo Move in this game, but this seems to be it. At least from this point on, my partner, Fritz, and I cannot find any line initiated by Black that doesn't give White a strong or winning position.

The only thing really wrong with this move is that it weakens Black's control of e5, which does not directly enter into the game. Indeed, White spends his time exploiting Black's Queenside weaknesses.

Of course, the fact that Black must continually spend some energy keeping e5 protected is exactly why White's Queenside attack ultimately succeeds.

In any case, Black does better after 12. -- Bf5 13. Nd4 (or 13. Ng3 Bg6 14. e4 0-0 15. Be2 f6 16. 0-0) 13. -- exd4 14. exd4 Nxd5 15. Bxc5 Qe6+ 16. Qe2 (bad for White would be 16. Be2? Nf4 17. Kf1 b6 18. Ba3 0-0-0 and Black would have winning chances) 16. -- Qxe2+ 17. Bxe2 with eqaulity.

13. Nc3 Bd7

White has more space in the center, better control of open lines and fewer Pawn weaknesses. This gives White a strong advantage in these variations: 13. -- a6 14. a5 b6 (or 14. -- Bd7 15. e4 0-0-0 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Na4 b6 18. axb6 cxb6 19. Qd2 Qc7 20. Nxc5 bxc5) 15. Na4 Bd7 16. axb6 (but not 16. Nxc5?!, after which Black levels the game by 16. -- bxc5 17. Qh5+ g6 18. Qh6 c6 19. Qg7 Rg8 20. Qxh7) 16. -- cxb6 17. Nxc5 bxc5 18. Qh5+ g6 19. Qh6 Qc7 20. Bb2.

14. Be2

The text is better than 14. Qb1?!, when Black gets back in the game after 14. -- 0-0 (or 14. -- 0-0-0 15. Qb4 b6 16. Nb5 Bxb5 17. axb5 Kb8 18. Qc3 Rhe8) 15. Nb5 Bxb5 16. axb5 a6 17. Ra2 (or 17. h3 Ra7 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Qb2 e4 =+) 17. -- Rfe8 (or 17. -- Rfd8 18. Be2 axb5 19. Qxb5 b6 +=) 18. e4 fxe4 19. Be2 Nf5 =+

14. -- 0-0

If Black plays 14. -- a6, then 15. 0-0 0-0 (or 15. -- 0-0-0 16. f4 exf4 17. Qd4 b6 18. exf4 Rhe8 19. a5 and White is still very strong) 16. e4 b6 17. exf5 Bxf5 (or 17. -- Nxf5 18. Ne4 Qe7 19. a5 and White is winning) 18. Bf3 (not so good is 18. a5?! Qg6 19. axb6 cxb6 and White's advantage is diminished) 18. -- Rad8 19. a5 Qh6 20. Re1 with a strong position.

Black could paly 14. -- 0-0-0, but gets nothing better: 15. Nb5 Bxb5 16. axb5 g5 (or 16. -- Rhe8 17. 0-0 Qb6 18. Ra2 g6 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qa1 Kb8 and White should win) 17. Qd2 Kb8 18. Qb4 b6 19. 0-0 with a winning advantage.

15. 0-0 b6

White has a strong game after 15. -- a6 16. f4 e4 (or 16. -- exf4 17. exf4 Rfe8 18. Rb1 b6) 17. Qd4 b6 18. a5 Rad8 (or 18. -- Rfe8 19. Qe5 Qxe5 20. fxe5 Nb3 21. Rab1 Nxa5.) 19. Bb4 Rf6 20. axb6 cxb6 21. Rfb1.

16. Nb5!

The text move is better than 16. f4?! exf4 (or 16. -- e4 17. Nb5 Bxb5 18. axb5 a6 19. Qd4 axb5 20. Bb2 Qf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6) 17. exf4 a6 (but if 17. -- Rfe8?!. then White retains a winning advantage after 18. a5 Rad8 19. Qd4 c6 20. Bh5 Ng6 21. Rfb1 +/-) 18. a5 Rfe8 19. Qd4 Nc6 (Black coul also slip here by 19. -- Rab8?! 20. axb6 cxb6 21. Qe5 Nc8 22. Qxd6 Nxd6) 20. Qf2 Nd8 21. axb6 cxb6.

16. -- Bxb5

White is in full command after 16. -- Qg6 17. Nxc7 Rac8 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Bh5 Qd6 20. Nb5.

17. cxb5 Kh8

White continues to dominate by either 17. -- Nxd5 18. Bc4 (or 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Bc4 Rfd8 20. Ra2 Kh8 21. Rd2) 18. -- Rfd8 (or 18. -- Kh8 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Bxd5 Rad8 21. Bc6) 19. Ra2 Kh8 (or 19. -- Kf8 20. Rd2 c6 21. bxc6 Qxc6 22. Bxd5) 20. Rd2 Nxe3 21. Rxd6 Nxd1 22. Rdxd1 or 17. -- Rad8 18. Bc4 Rf7 19. f3 Rf6 20. a5 Rdf8 21. Qc2 R6f7 22. e4 Ng6 +/-

18. Qc2 f4

White should win after 18. -- Nxd5 19. Rac1 Rad8 (or 19. -- Rf7 20. Rfd1 Rd8 21. a5 e4 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 24. Bc4 Qd7 25. Bxf7 Qxf7) 20. Rfd1 Rf7 (or 20. -- Rf6 21. Bc4 c6 22. Bb3 Rff8 23. Bxc5 bxc5 24. a5) 21. a5 and then:

• 21. -- Rfd7 22. Qxf5 Qf6 23. Qxf6 Nxf6 24. Rxd7 Rxd7 (or 24. -- Ncxd7 25. Rxc7 bxa5 26. Rxa7) 25. Bxc5 bxc5 26. Rxc5 +-;
• 21. -- e4 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Rxd5 Qxd5 24. Bc4.

White also retains a big edge after 18. -- Rad8 19. Rac1 Rd7 20. Bxc5 bxc5 21. Qxc5 Qxc5 22. Rxc5 Nxd5 23. Rd1 Rfd8.

19. e4 f3

Also futile for Black is 19. -- Ng8 20. Rfc1 Nf6 (or 20. -- Rf7 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. Ra3 Nf6 23. Rb3 Nd7 24. a5 Rb8 25. Bg4) 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. Ra3 Nd7 23. a5 Rfb8 24. Bc4 Nf6 25. f3.

20. Bxf3!

The text is better than 20. gxf3 Ng6 21. Kh1 (or 21. Rac1 Nf4 22. Kh1 Rf7 23. a5 Qh6 24. Bxc5 bxc5 25. Rg1 Nh3 26. Rg3 and White should still win) 21. -- Nf4 22. a5 (but if 22. Rg1?!, then Black can entertain hopes of an even game with 22. -- Qf6 23. Bc1 Nxe2 24. Qxe2 Qxf3+ 25. Qxf3 Rxf3) 22. -- Qf6 23. Rac1 (or 23. Bxc5?! bxc5 24. Rac1 Qh4 25. Rg1 Rf6 26. Rg4 Qxf2 and the game is level) 23. -- Qh4 24. Rg1 (or 24. Bxc5?! bxc5 25. Rg1 Rf6 26. Rg4 Qxf2 27. Bd1 Nh3 and again a level game) 24. -- a6 25. bxa6 Qxf2 26. axb6 when White's advantages is diminished.

20. -- Rxf3

No better for Black is 20. -- a6 21. Rac1 axb5 (or 21. -- Rfb8 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. Qxc5 Rb7 24. Be2 axb5 25. Bxb5 Rba7) 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. axb5 Rfb8 (or 23. -- Ra7 24. Qxc5 Rb7 25. Be2 Ra8 26. Qxd6 cxd6 27. Ra1) 24. Qxc5 Rb7 25. Rc2 Qf6 26. Bg4.

21. gxf3 Qg6+ 22. Kh1 Qh5 23. Qd1

Black would have hopes after 23. Rac1?! Qxf3+ 24. Kg1 Qg4+ 25. Kh1 Qf3.

23. -- Ng6 24. Bxc5 bxc5 25. Rg1 Nf4

Black is hopeless: 25. -- a6 26. bxa6 Rxa6 (or 26. -- Nf4 27. Rb1 Nh3 28. Qb3 h6 29. Rg3) 27. a5 Nf4 (or 27. -- Nf8 28. Rg3 Qh6 29. Qb3) 28. Qb3 Ra8 29. Rg4.

26. Rg3 Rf8 27. d6

Just as good is 27. Qc2 Qf7 (or 27. -- Kg8 28. Qxc5 Ne2 29. Rag1 Nxg3+ 30. Rxg3 Rxf3 31. Qxc7 Rxg3 32. Qc8+) 28. Ra3 Qf6 (or 28. -- Rb8 29. Qxc5 a6 30. d6 cxd6 31. Qxd6 Rc8 32. Qxa6) 29. Qxc5 Ne2 (or 29. -- Qd6 30. Rc3 Ne2 31. Qxc7 Qf6 32. Rd3) 30. Qxa7 Qd6 (or 30. -- Nxg3+ 31. fxg3 Qb6 32. Qxb6 +/-) 31. Rb3 Nxg3+ 32. fxg3.

27. -- c4 28. dxc7 Nd3 29. Qc2

Also winning is 29. Qd2 Rc8 (or 29. -- Qf7 30. Qa5 Rc8 31. Qxa7 Qxc7 32. Qe3 Qd7 33. Ra2) 30. Qa5 Qf7 (or 30. -- Nxf2+ 31. Kg2 Nd3 32. Qxa7 Nf4+ 33. Kh1 Ne2 34. Rg2 Nf4 35. Rd1 +-) 31. Qxa7 Qxc7 (or 31. -- h5 32. b6 Kh7 33. Qb7 Qe6 34. Qd5 Qc6 35. Qxc6 +-) 32. Qxc7 Rxc7 33. a5 +-

29. -- Qf7 30. Rd1 Qd7

Black also loses after 30. -- Rc8 31. Qd2 Rxc7 32. Rdg1 Qf8 (or 32. -- Rd7 33. Qc2 Rc7 34. Rd1 Rd7 35. Rb1 Rb7) 33. Rd1 Rf7 34. Qe2 Rd7 (or 34. -- Qd6 35. Kg1 Rd7 36. Qc2 Qb4 37. Rb1) 35. Kg1 Nf4 36. Qc2.

31. Kg1 Qd4 32. f4 1-0

A White Pawn will coronate after 32. f4 Rc8 33. Rgxd3 cxd3 34. Rxd3 Qb6 35. Qc6 Qxc6 36. bxc6 g6 37. Rd8+. Bae resigns.




Magnus Carlsen
Photo: SV Heerhughowaard (Holland)

Magnus Carlsen vs. Kjeitil Lie
Norwegian National Championship, Round 3
Moss, July 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Accelerated Dragon Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bg7 5. Nc3 Nc6

Also played in this line is 5. -- d6 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Qd3 0-0 9. f4.

Even more than most defenses in the Open Sicilian, the Dragon (this goes for any of the Dragons) depends on the use of pieces to control the center for Black. It is almost impossible for Black to advance his e-Pawn. Thus, White will enjoy a space advantage in the center. Yet somehow the Dragon manages to work. There have been many reports of its demise, all premature.

6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Qa5?!

This move is not seen often nowadays. Better is 7. -- d6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. f3 0-0 10. Qd2 a6.

8. 0-0 0-0 9. Bb3 d6 10. h3

The game is level after 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Ne5 12. h3 (or 12. Bg5 Re8 13. Re1 Bg4 14. Qd2=) 12. -- Qa6 13. Re1 Bd7.

10. -- Bd7

The game is equal. The equalibrium is also maintained by 10. -- Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b6 (or 11. -- b5 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Rb8 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Qd3) 12. Nd5 (or 12. Bd5 Ba6 13. Re1 Rac8) 12. -- Nxd5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. exd5.

11. Qe1 Rfe8 12. Rd1 Rac8 13. f4 Nd8

If 13. -- b6 then 14. Qg3 (or 14. Qd2 a6 15. Bf2 Rc7 16. Qe3 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Bc6 18. e5 Nd7 and White has only a slight edge) and now:

• 14. -- a6?! 15. e5:
  • White has a winning position after 15. -- Nxd4? 16. Bxd4 (but not 16. exf6? Nf5! 17. Qf2 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Bxf6 and Black has a strong position and is well poised for an exchange sacrifice on c3) 16. -- Nh5 17. Qf2 Be6 18. Bxe6 fxe6 and White wins a piece with 19. g4;
  • 15. -- dxe5? 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. fxe5 Nh5 (or 17. -- Ne4 18. Nxe4 Bxe4 19. Bxf7+ and White wins the exchange) 18. Qf2 Rf8 19. Nd5 and Black's Queen is in danger; or
  • 15. -- Nh5 16. Qh4 dxe5 17. Bxf7+ Kxf7 18. Nb3 and White has a strong advantage with serious threats against Black's heavy pieces;
• Black does better with 14. -- Nh5! 15. Qf2 Nf6 16. Rd2 (or 16. f5 Ne5 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Qf4 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 and an equal game) 16. -- Qh5 17. Nf3 (or 17. Qg3? Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Rxc3 19. Qxc3 Nxe4 20. Qe3 Nxd2 and Black, with firm control of open lines, has winning chances) 17. -- Na5 18. e5 (or 18. Ng5 Nxb3 19. axb3 Bh6 20. Ne2 Bxg5 21. fxg5 Nxe4 and a level game) 18. -- Rxc3 19. exf6 Nxb3 with equality.

14. Bf2 e5

Wrong would be 14. -- Nh5? after which comes 15. Nd5 (or 15. Be3 Nf6 16. Nf3 Bc6 17. Bd4 b6 18. e5 Nh5 19. Qf2 dxe5 20. Nxe5 with a slight advantage for White) 15. -- Qxe1 16. Bxe1 e6 17. Nc3 (or 17. Ne3?! Nxf4 18. Rxf4 e5 and a slight advantage for Black) 17. -- Nxf4 (or 17. -- a6 18. Nde2 Bf8 19. g4 Ng7 and a slight advantage for White) 18. Rxf4 e5 19. Ncb5 (or 19. Ndb5 exf4 20. Nxd6 and an even game) 19. -- Bf8 20. Nxa7 Ra8 21. Nab5 and White has a strong advantage.

15. fxe5 Qxe5?

Black retakes the wrong way and now loses. Correct is 15. -- dxe5 16. Nf3 (or 16. Nde2 Be6 17. Nc1 b5 18. Qe2 a6 19. Nd5 Bxd5 20. exd5) 16. -- Bc6 (not 16. -- Qa6 17. Qe3 b6 18. Bh4 Bb5 19. Nxb5 Qxb5 20. Ng5 Rf8 and White would be winning) 17. Nd5 Qxe1 (not 17. -- Qa6? 18. Nb4 Qb5 19. Nxc6 Nxc6 20. Ng5 and White has a big edge) 18. Rfxe1 a6 19. Bh4 Nxd5 20. exd5 Bd7 and White has only a small advantage.

16. Nf3!

If 16. Bg3? Qc5 Black gets a big break:

• 17. Bh4 Ng4
  • 18. hxg4 Bxd4+ 19. Bf2 Bxf2+ (not 19. -- Bxc3? 20. bxc3 Qc7 21. Bh4 Nc6 22. Bxf7+ and White has a strong game) 20. Rxf2 Bxg4 21. Rd5 Qb6 22. Qd2 Be6 with a balanced position; or
  • 18. Bf2 18. -- Nxf2 19. Qxf2 Re7 20. a3 b6 21. Kh1 a6 22. Ba2 b5 with equality; or
• 17. Bf2 17. -- Qh5 18. a3 h6 19. Bh4 Rxc3 20. Bxf6 Rxh3 21. gxh3 Bxf6 22. Qd2 and Black is very strong.

In the text position, the Black Queen must give way leaving White with control of open lines (especially the d-file and the a2-g8 diagonal) which he shall exploit for the rest of the game.

16. -- Qh5

No good for Black is 16. -- Qe7 17. Bxa7 Be6 18. Bxe6 Nxe6 19. Qd2 b5 20. Bf2 Qb7 21. Rfe1 Ra8 22. Qxd6

17. Rxd6 Bxh3

White is winning after 17. -- Bc6 18. Bxa7 Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. Qd1 Ne6 21. Nd4 Qxd1 22. Rxd1 Nxd4 23. Bxd4.

18. gxh3 Qxf3

White still has a huge edge with 18. -- Qxh3 19. Bxa7 Rxc3 20. bxc3 Qg4+ 21. Kh1 Nxe4 22. Rxd8 Rxd8.

19. Bg3

Also good is 19. Bd4 Qxh3 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Rfxf6 Qg4+ 22. Kh2 Qh5+ 23. Kg2 Qg5+ 24. Qg3 Qxg3+ 25. Kxg3.

19. -- Qh5

White can also win with 19. -- Rxc3 20. Rxf3 (even better than 20. bxc3 Qxe4 21. Qf2 Ne6 22. Re1 Qf5 23. Qxf5 gxf5) 20. -- Rxf3 21. Rd3 Rxd3 22. cxd3.

20. Rdxf6!

An excellent exchange sacrifice takes contro of the f-file.

20. -- Bxf6 21. Rxf6

White now also controls the a1-h8 diagonal, which proves to be the coup de grace.

21. -- Qxh3 22. Qf2 Ne6

22. -- Qh6 does no good: 23. Rxf7 Nxf7 24. Bxf7+ (superior to 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Qd5 Qg7) 24. -- Kg7 25. Bxe8 Qc1+ 26. Kh2 (or 26. Qe1 Qxe1+ 27. Bxe1 Rxe8 28. Kf2 g5) 26. -- Rxe8 27. Qd4+.

23. Nd5 Ng5

Equally hopeless is 23. -- Nd4 24. Nf4 Qg4 (or 24. -- Ne2+ 25. Nxe2 Red8 26. Rxg6+ hxg6 27. Qxf7+ Kh8 28. Be5#) 25. Bxf7+.

24. Rxf7 Rxc2

Also losing is 24. -- Nxf7 25. Nf6+ Kf8 (or 25. -- Kg7 26. Nxe8+ Rxe8 27. Qxf7+ Kh6 28. Bf4+ Kh5 29. Qxh7+) 26. Nxe8 Qxg3+ 27. Qxg3 Rxe8 28. Qh4 Kg7 (or 28. -- h5 29. Qf6 Re7 30. e5 a5 31. e6) 29. Bxf7 Kxf7 30. Qxh7+.

25. Ne7+ Kh8

Black falls on his sword, but nothing else is any better; for example, 25. -- Rxe7 26. Rxe7+ Ne6 27. Qf7+ Kh8 28. Be5+ Ng7 29. Qxg7#

26. Be5# 1-0

Black has been checkmated.




Gata Kamsky
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Gata Kamsky vs. Giovanni Vescovi
World Open, Round 3
Philadelphia, July 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Yates Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. d4

The usual move order for the Yates Opening is (after 7. Bb3): 7. -- d6 8. c3 0-0 9. d4!? Bg4. By playing 7. -- 0-0, Black announced his intention to play the Marshall Gambit (8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6) and by playing 8. d4, White showed his desire to avoid that line.

The more explicity Anti-Marshall lines are:

• The Kasparov Variation: 8. a4 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Nf1 h6 12. Bd2 Bf8; and
• The Sofia Variation: 8. h3 Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Na5 11. Ba2 c5.

In the main line of the Spanish Game, White usually plays 9. h3 (rather than 9. d4) in order to avoid the pin on the Knight at f3.

8. -- d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Qc8 12. h3 Bd7

Both sides can get a satisfacotory game from 12. -- Bxf3 13. Qxf3 c6 (or 13. -- c5 14. b3 Qc7 15. Bb2 Nb7 16. Nd2 Rfe8) 14. dxc6 (or 14. b3 Qb7 15. Ba3 Rac8 16. Bb4 Qc7 17. Nd2) 14. -- Nxc6 15. Bb3 Qc7 16. Bg5 Rac8.

13. Bg5 c6 14. dxc6 Qxc6 15. Nbd2 Be6 16. Rc1 h6 17. Bh4

The equalibrium is maintained by 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Bd3 (or 18. a4 Rac8 19. axb5 axb5 20. Ra1 Ra8 21. Re3 Nc4) 18. -- Nc4 19. Nxc4 bxc4 20. Bc2 d5 21. exd5 Bxd5.

17. -- Qb7 18. b3 Rac8 19. Bb1 g6

A level game follows from 19. -- Nc6 20. c4 (or 20. Bg3 Rc7 21. Qe2 Re8 22. Red1 Rec8 23. c4) 20. -- bxc4 (or 20. -- b4 21. Nf1 Nh7 22. Ne3 Bxh4 23. Nxh4) 21. Nxc4 Rfd8 22. Qd2 d5 23. exd5 Rxd5.

20. Nf1 Nh5 21. Qd2 Kg7 22. Bxe7 Qxe7 23. c4 Nc6

White would get a big advantage from 23. -- bxc4? 24. Qxa5 cxb3 25. axb3 Bxb3 26. Qxa6 Ra8 (or 26. -- Rxc1? 27. Rxc1 Nf4 28. Ne3) 27. Qd3 Ba4.

If 23. -- Nb7, then 24. cxb5 axb5 25. Qb4 Bd7 (25. -- Rxc1? would be an error: 26. Rxc1 Nf4 27. Qxb5 d5 28. Rd1 Nd6 29. Qb4 gives White two connected passed Pawns on the Queenside) 26. Ne3 Nf4 (or 26. -- Nf6 27. a4 Rc5 28. Bd3 with an even game) 27. Nd5 Nxd5 28. exd5 Rxc1 29. Rxc1 with equality.

24. Bd3 bxc4 25. Bxc4 Nb8 26. Bxe6 Qxe6

Black gets a satisfactory game if careful: 26. -- Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Qxe6 28. Rd1 (better than 28. Ne3 Nf6 29. Qc2 d5 30. exd5 Nxd5 31. Nxd5) 28. -- Nf6 (or 28. -- Nf4?! 29. Ne3 f6 30. Nc4 Rc8 31. Nxd6 and White has a strong position with an extra Pawn on the Queenside) 29. Qb4 d5 (or 29. -- Rc8?! 30. Rxd6 Qe7 31. Ng3 also gives White an extra Pawn on the Queenside) 30. exd5 Nxd5 31. Qc4 Rd8 with an even game.

27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Ne3 Nf6 29. Nc4 Rc6 30. Qb4 Qc8?

This loses a Pawn.

White has only a slight plus after 30. -- Nbd7 31. Qb7 Rxc4 32. bxc4 Qxc4 33. Qb3 Qc6 (or 33. -- Qb5 34. Qc2 Nc5) 34. Nd2.

31. Nxd6 Qf8 32. Rd1 Nbd7 33. Qd2 Qe7 34. Nc4

If 34. b4 then 34. -- Qe6 (or 34. -- Nb6 35. a3 Nc4 36. Nxc4 Rxc4 37. Qd3 Qc7 38. Nxe5 and now White has an extra Pawn on each side of the board) 35. a3 Qb3 36. Rc1 and now:

White gets a winning game after 36. -- Rb6? 37. Nh4 Rxd6 (or 37. -- Qe6 38. Nhf5+! gxf5 39. Nxf5+ Kg8 40. Qxh6 and White has a mating attack) 38. Qxd6 Qxa3 39. Rd1 and White is an exchange up; or
• 36. -- Rxc1+ 37. Qxc1 Qd3 38. Qc7 Qxa3 39. Qc4 and White has a winning hand.

34. -- Qc5 35. Re1 Re6 36. Qe3 Qc7

If 36. -- Qc6 37. a3 Re7 38. Na5 Qb5 (or 38. -- Qc2 39. Nc4 Re8 40. Rc1 and White's an extra Pawn assures him of at least a strong advantage) 39. b4 Re8 40. Rc1 and again White's extra Pawn begins moving up.

37. Rc1 Qb7

White wins another Pawn by 37. -- Rc6? 38. a3 Ne8 39. Rd1 Ndf6 40. Nfxe5.

38. Rd1 Re7

Down a Pawn, Black can do little to disspate White's advantage. White should win after 38. -- Qc7 39. Rc1 Qc5 40. Rc3 Qb5 41. a3 (or 41. a4 Qb4 42. Ncd2 Rd6 43. Rc1) 41. -- Rc6 42. Nfxe5 (or ‹42. Nfd2 Rc7 43. Rc1 Ne8) 42. -- Re6 43. Ng4.

39. Nfd2 Qc6 40. f3!

The text is better than 40. Qf3 Re6 41. a3 Qb5 (or 41. -- Nc5 42. Na5 Qb5 43. b4 Re7 44. Rc1 Ne6) 42. Qe3 Nb6 43. f3 Nbd7 (or 43. -- Nfd7 44. Nxb6 Nxb6 45. Nf1 +/-) 44. b4 Rc6 45. Rc1 +/-

40. -- Nc5

Black, who has been a Pawn down for a long time, is putting up a stubborn defense. White is winning even more easily than the text after either 40. -- Ng8 41. Nb1 Re8 42. Nc3 f6 43. a3 Rb8 44. Rd6 Qc7 45. Nd5 or 40. -- Re6 41. Nb1 Qc7 42. Nc3 Nb6 43. Na5 (or 43. Nxb6 Qxb6 44. Qxb6 Rxb6) 43. -- Re8 44. Ne2 Rd8 45. Rxd8 Qxd8 46. Nc6.

41. Nb1

Also good for White is 41. a3 Re8 42. b4 Nb7 43. Qb6 Qxb6+ 44. Nxb6 Rd8 45. Nbc4.

41. -- Rd7

If 41. -- Ncd7 then White reatins a strong or winning advantage by:

• 42. Nc3 Re8 (or 42. -- Re6 43. Nd5 Qb7 44. a3 Qb8 45. Rd2 Nh5 46. Nb4) 43. Nd5 Nxd5 44. exd5 Qc5 45. Qxc5 Nxc5 46. d6; or
• 42. Rd6! 42. -- Qb7 43. Nc3 (or 43. Na5 Qa8 44. Nc6 Re8 45. Qa7) 43. -- Re8 (or 43. -- Re6 44. Rxe6 fxe6 45. g3 Qc7 46. Qd2) 44. Nd5 Nxd5 (or 44. -- Nh7 45. Na5 Qc8 46. Rc6) 45. exd5 f6 46. Rc6.

42. Rxd7

White also wins with 42. Nc3 Rxd1+ 43. Nxd1 Nfd7 44. g3 f6 45. Nc3 Ne6 46. Nd5 Nd4 47. Kf2.

42. -- Ncxd7 43. Nc3 h5 44. h4 Qe6

Futile for Black is 44. -- Ne8 45. g3 f6 46. Qd2 (or 46. Nd5?! Nc7 47. Nxc7 Qxc7 48. Kf2 Nc5 49. Qd2 Kf7) 46. -- Qc5+ 47. Kg2 (or 47. Kf1 Qc8 48. Ke2 Nb8 49. Kf2) 47. -- Qd4 (or 47. -- Qc8 48. a4 Nc5 49. Qd5 Nxb3 50. Nxe5 Qc7 51. Qxb3 Qxe5 52. Nd5) 48. Qxd4 exd4 49. Ne2 d3 50. Nc1.

45. Qd2 Ne8 46. Nd5 Qc6

Not good enough is 46. -- f5 47. exf5 gxf5 (or 47. -- Qxf5 48. Nb4 Ndf6 49. Nxa6) 48. Qa5 Nef6 49. Nb4 e4 50. Qxa6.

47. Nb4 Qb7

The text loses a second Pawn. Black's game was already difficult, if not lost. An alternative line doesn't offer Black a lot of hope: 47. -- Qc5+ 48. Kf1 Nb6 (or 48. -- Nb8 49. Ne3 f6 50. g3 Nd6) 49. Nxb6 Qxb6 50. g3 (or 50. Nd5 Qb5+ 51. Qe2 f5 52. Qxb5 axb5 53. Ke2) 50. -- Qb5+ 51. Kg2.

48. Nxa6 Nb6

Other winning lines for White are:

• 48. -- f5 49. exf5 Ndf6 50. Nc5 Qa7 51. Qf2 Qe7 52. Ne6+; or
• 48. -- Qa7+ 49. Kf1 Nb6 50. Nxb6 Qxb6 51. Nb4 Nd6 52. Nd5.

49. Nb4 Nxc4 50. bxc4 Qe7

Futile for Black is 50. -- Qb6+ 51. Kh2 (or 51. Kf1 Qc5 52. Qc3 f6 53. Nd3 Qa7 54. Qb3 Qd4 55. c5) 51. -- Nd6 52. Qc3 (or 52. Nd5 Nxc4 53. Nxb6 Nxd2 54. a4 Nb3 55. Nc4) 52. -- Qc5 53. Nd3 Qd4 (or 53. -- Qc7 54. Qxe5+ f6 55. Qg3 Kh6 56. c5) 54. Qxd4 exd4 55. c5.

51. Qc3 Qxh4 52. Qxe5+ f6 53. Qe7+ Kh6 54. Nd3 1-0

Here White must be careful: if 54. Qxe8? then Black forces a draw by pertepual check with 54. -- Qe1+ 55. Kh2 Qh4+ etc.

54. -- Qg5 55. f4

If 55. f4 then 55. -- Qg3 56. Qxe8 Kg7 (or 56. -- Qxd3 57. Qh8#) 57. Qe7+ Kh8 58. Qxf6+. Vescovi resigns.




Peng Zhaoqin
Photo: Figo (Germany)

Martje de Jonge vs. Peng Zhaoqin
Dutch National Championships, Women's Round 9
Hilversum, June 2006

French Defense: Tarrasch Attack

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. exd5 exd5 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8. 0-0 Be7 9. c3 0-0 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Nb3 Nce4 12. Be3

Although she has lived in Holland for approimately 15 years, Mw. Peng learned to play chess in China the Chinese way. She doesn't try to get too much out of the opening and plays a solid game, patiently waiting for her opponent to present her with an opportunity.

This game was played in the last round when Mw. Peng already had her seventh straight national title sewed up. Normally, this would make her even less inclined to take unnecessary risks than usual. However, a win would be her eighth in mine rounds.

Also satisfactory for both players in this position is 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Ne5 (or 13. Nfd4 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Nxd6) 13. -- Bd6 14. Nd3 Bxf4 15. Nxf4 Qd6 16. Nd3.

12. -- Re8

The equalibrium remains in tact by 12. -- Bd6 13. Nbd4 (or 13. Nfd4 Qc7 14. f4 Qd7 15. Qd3 a6 16. Rad1 Rfe8 17. Rfe1) 13. -- Qb6 14. Qc2 (or 14. Qb3 Qxb3 15. axb3 Ng4 16. Nf5) 14. -- Ng4 15. Nf5 (or 15. Rae1 Qc7 16. h3 Bh2+ 17. Kh1 Nxe3 18. Rxe3) 15. -- Qc7 (or 15. -- Nxe3 16. Nxe3 Rfe8 17. Rad1 +=) 16. h3 Nh2 (or 16. -- Ne5 17. Nd2 Nxd2 18. Bxd2 +=) 17. Nxh2 Bxh2+ 18. Kh1.

13. Qd3 Qd7 14. Nfd4

14. Rfe1 Bd6 15. Rad1 Rad8 (or 15. -- Qa4 16. Nc1 Rac8 17. Bd4 Ng4 18. a3 a6) 16. Nfd2 Qa4 17. Nc1 Nxd2 (or 17. -- Ng4 18. Nf1=) 18. Bxd2.

14. -- h6 15. Rad1 a6

The game reamins more or less level after 15. -- Ng4 16. Bf4 (or 16. Nf3 Bd6 17. Qxd5 Qc7 18. Qh5 Nef6) 16. -- Bd6 (or 16. -- Ngxf2 17. Rxf2 Nxf2 18. Kxf2 Qa4) 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. f4 Qg6.

16. Ne2 Qa4 17. Qc2 Bd6 18. Rd3 Rac8 19. Ned4

19. Bd4 Ng4 20. f4 b5 21. Re1 b4 22. Qd1 Ngf6 23. Nbc1 Qxd1 24. Rexd1 is still an equal game.

19. -- Bb8 20. Nf5

No solid opportunities are presented to either lady by 20. f3 Nd6 21. Re1 (or 21. a3 Nc4 22. Bc1 Re7 23. Na1 Qd7 24. Rfd1 Rce8) 21. -- Nc4 (or 21. -- b5 22. a3 Nc4 23. Qf2 Nd7 24. Bc1 Rxe1+=) 22. Qb1 Ba7 23. Nf5 Nxe3 (or 23. -- Bxe3+ 24. Nxe3 Nxe3 25. Rdxe3 Rxe3 26. Rxe3 Re8 27. Rxe8+ Nxe8) 24. Nxe3 Qf4.

20. -- Qd7

Black just rolls the ball back to her opponent: 20. -- Ng4 21. h3 Bh2+ (or 21. -- Nxe3 22. Nxe3 Ba7 23. Nxd5 Nc5 24. Re3 Rxe3 25. fxe3) 22. Kh1 Nxe3 23. fxe3 Ng3+ 24. Nxg3 Bxg3 25. Rxd5 is perfectly level.

21. Nbd4 Ng4 22. g3 h5 23. Qc1 Ne5 24. Rdd1 g6

Again, Black will not allow an opportunity: 24. -- Nf3+ 25. Nxf3 Qxf5 26. Nh4 (or 26. Nd4 Qh3 27. Rfe1 b5 28. a3 h4) 26. -- Qe6 27. Rfe1 b5 28. Ng2 (or 28. Qb1 Be5 29. Nf3 +=) 28. -- b4 +=

25. Nh4 Qh3 26. Ng2 Ng4 27. Nf3 h4 28. Bf4?

This is the opportunity for which Black has been waiting. Better for White is 28. Ngxh4, when she would have a small adavantage after 28. -- Nxg3 (but would get more if Black played 28. -- Nxh2?!, which would be dubious because of 29. Nxh2 Nxg3 30. fxg3 Qxg3+ 31. Ng2 and White is threatening a loose Pawn and has better control of open lines) 29. hxg3 Bxg3 30. Bf4 (or 30. fxg3 Qxg3+ 31. Kh1 Nxe3) 30. -- Bxh4.

28. -- hxg3

If 28. -- Ba7 29. Rd2 (or 29. Rde1 Ngxf2 30. Be3 Nd3 -+) 29. -- Nxh2 then:

• 30. Ngxh4 Nxf3+ 31. Nxf3 Nxg3 32. Nh2 (or 32. Bxg3 Qxg3+ 33. Kh1 Qxf3+and Black has won a piece in addition to beginning a mating attack) 32. -- Ne2+ and Black will win at least the exchange; or
• 30. Nxh2 30. -- hxg3 31. Bxg3 Nxd2 (or 31. -- Nxg3 32. Re1 Ne4 and Black wins the exchange) 32. Qxd2 Qxg3 and Black has won the exchange.

29. hxg3 Ba7 30. Rd2 Nxg3 31. Bxg3 Qxg3 32. Qd1 Kg7

Black can also win by 32. -- Re4 33. Rd4 Bxd4 34. cxd4 Qh3 35. Qb3 Rce8.

33. Rc2 Rh8 34. Qxd5

Just a futile for White is 34. Re1 Nxf2 35. Kf1 Rh1+ 36. Ke2 Qxg2.

34. -- Qh3

Black misses a quick mate: 34. -- Rh2 35. Nfh4 Rh1+ 36. Kxh1 Qh2#, but it is of little consequnece.

35. Qxf7+ Kxf7 36. Ng5+ Kg7 37. Nxh3 Rxh3 38. 0-1

White is in a mating net. Mw. de Jonge resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. A Bastille Day Tribute to a Chess Playing Member of the French Resistance

Dr. Savielly Tartakover
Photo: Chess History

Savielly Tartakover was one of the strongest chess players in the period between the two World Wars and a truly fascinating individual. He was born in Rostov-on-Don in 1887, but moved to Vienna to study law in 1904. He received a Doctor of Law degree in 1909. In 1911, his parents. still in Rostov-on-Don, were murdered in a pogrom. By this time, Dr. Tartakover was a professional chess player, finishing first at Nuremberg in 1906 and participating in the famous St. Petersburg Tournament of 1909. During World War I, he served in the Austrian army as a lieutenant. He was wounded once.

Poland became an independent nation after the war and Dr. Tartakover became a Polish citizen, in spite of the fact that he spoke no Polish. Nevertheless, Tartakover led the Polish team in the events that became the chess Olympics. During this time he was also twice the tournament champion at Hastings and shared first prize with Aron Nimzovich at the 1927 London Tournament.

Dr. Tartakover was in Buenos Aires at the Chess Olympiad when the Nazis invaded Poland in September 1939. Tartakover went to France in 1940, but the Nazis soon invaded that country. Tartakover, using the name Cartier, remained in France and fought with the Resistance. After the war, Tartakover became a French citizen.

Dr. Tartakover was one of the most colorful figures of his time. Apart from his chess, he was most admired for his wit. His sage remarks on the game are quoted by chess players to this day. Among them:

• It's always better to sacrifice your opponent's men.
• An isolated pawn spreads gloom all over the chessboard.
• The mistakes are all there, waiting to be made.
• Victory goes to the player who makes the next-to-last mistake.

He was fond of fast living and gambling, a fact that kept him from getting terribly wealthy.

An article in Chess Review said of Dr. Tartakover in his later years: "Since his health becomes more delicate with age, he toys with the idea of giving up practical chess and retiring to his villa in Cote d'Azur. This plan is excellent -- only for sundry reasons he has not yet acquired said villa."

Dr. Tartakover died in Paris in February 1956.

Savielly Tartakover vs. Siegbert Tarrasch
International Tournament
Goterborg, 1920

Open Italian Game: Gothic Defense (Two Knights' Defense/Scotch Gambit)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4

Much more fun is 4. Ng5, leading to wild and woolly chess after 4. -- d5 5. exd5 Na5 (Nxd5 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 is the Fried Liver Attack) 6. Bb5+ c6 7. Be2.

4. -- exd4 5. O-O

White usually plays this opening as a gambit rather than seeking to immediately recover the Pawn with 5. Nxd4. This position can also arise out of the Open Royal Game (Scotch Opening) by 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Bc4 (rather than the usual 4. Nxd4) Nf6 5. o-o.

5. -- Nxe4 6. Re1 d5

This is the key move to hold Black's position. The point of the Gothic Defense ( -- e5, -- Nc6 and -- Nf6), whether against an Italian or Spanish set up by White, is to protect the Pawn at e5 with the Knight at c6 and, with the Knight at f6, to begin a counter-attack against White's Pawn at e4 and to support the thrust d5, as here and in the variation following 4. Ng5 in the first note.

7. Bxd5 Qxd5 8. Nc3 Qa5

Also playable is 8. -- Qh5, which recent results show to be encouraging for Black.

9. Nxe4 Be6 10. Neg5 O-O-O

Black castles into safety. White was threatening to regain the Pawn with advantage by using the pin on the e-file with 11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. Ng5+ and 13. Rxe6, leaving the Black King exposed in the center.

11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Rxe6 Be7 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. Rxe7 Rd7 15. Rxd7 Nxd7

With the series of exchanges, White has recovered his gambit Pawn and winds the game down to a reasonablly favorable ending. The Kings are castled on opposite wings, which usually signals attacks accordingly.

16. Bf4 Re8!

It is usually better to protect a Pawn or hanging piece with a threat than directly. Obviously, Black's d-Pawn is safe for the moment as 17. Qxd4?? results in a back rank mate at e1.

17. h3

Now White no longer needs to worry about snap mates.

17. -- Qf5 18. Bg3 Qe4 19. Qd2 b6?

Black's attack in the center is spent and he must begin to battle for space somewhere on the wings. Better is the more aggressive 19. -- c5 20. a4 b6 to be followed by seeking an exchange of Queens or action on the Kingside.

20. b4!

White is first to grab space on the wing where the enemy King has taken refuge.

20. -- Nf6 21. Rd1 Kb7 22. a4

White secures his spatial advantage on the Queenside.

22. -- Qe2 23. Qxd4 Qxc2 24. a5 Re4 25. Qa1!!

Not only does this move protect the back rank, but it prepares for the final assault after the Queenside is opened.

25. -- Qe2 26. Rc1 Rc4 27. axb6 axb6 28. b5

The Queenside is now open and the Black King's escape route is blocked.

28. -- Kb8 29. Re1 Qc2 30. Qa6 Re4 31. Ra1 1-0

Black can only postpone checkmate by throwing away material. Dr. Tarrasch resigns.