The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for October 22

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending October 22


Image: Chess Ballet
from by-art.com

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending October 22

Topalov wants rematch; Kramnik says "Nyet"



World Champion Vladimir Kramnik (in light suit, center) at a press conference Monday
Photo: ChessBase.com

Former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov announced this week that he wanted a rematch with world champion Vladimir Kramnik in March, but Kramnik rejected the idea the following day.

Topalov and his manager, Bulgarian grandmaster Silvio Danailov, said that they would propose a rematch with FIDE and wanted to set the date for March 3.

Kramnik will be expected to play in the World Championship Tournament in Mexico City in April. He said he was against the idea of a rematch.

Topalov will be participating in a tournament in Holland this week.


Andriasian and Shen win World Junior Championships



Photo: ChessBase.com

Armenian international master Zaven Andriasian won the general division of the World Junior Championship and Shen Yang of China won the girls' division by virtue of tiebreak points over three other participants who matched her score of 9 points in 13 rounds.

Andriasian scored 9½ points out of 13 rounds. Russian IM Nikita Vitiugov, Ukrainian grandmaster Yuriy Kryvoruchko and grandmaster Levan Patsulaia of Georgia tied for second with 9 points each.

The three young ladies who matched Ms. Shen's score were 12-year-old Hou Yifan of China, Georgian WGM Salome Melia and WGM Bathuyag Mongintuul of Mongolia.

The event was held in the Armenian capital of Yerevan in the chess center named for the late former world champion Tigran Petrosian, Armenia's greatest chess master.


International Tournament begins in Barcelona



A single-robin tournament featuring ten players from around the world is taking place in Barcelona.

The participants are Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, Viktor Bologan of Moldavia, Oleg Korneev of Russia, Dutch grandmaster Jan Timman, Julio Granda of Peru, Fernando Peralta of Argentina, Lanier Domínguez of Cuba, and Spaniards Marc Narciso, José Manuel López and José Antonio Lacasa.

The event began Thursday. After three rounds, Peralta leads with 2½ points, followed by Domínguez and Ivanchuk with 2 points each.

The event concludes with the ninth round on Friday.


World Youth Championships underway in Georgia



The World Youth Championships began Thursday in resort town of Batumi, located on the coast of the Black Sea in the Caucasus republic of Georgia.

The event is divided into twelve categories, for boys and girls in each of six different age groups.

The eleven round event concludes next Sunday.


Essent Chess Tournament Crown Group begins today



The Crown Group, the most prestigious of several events associated with the annual Essent Tournament, begins play today in Hoogeveen, Holland.

The Crown Group is a double round robin tournament among four of the world's leading grandmasters. This year's participants are former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov, Azerbaijani grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Hungary's Judit Polgar, the strongest woman chess master of all time, and Dutch grandmaster Ivan Sokolov.

The tournament concludes Saturday.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features on the JR Chess Report

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.


Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Vladimir Kramnik - Veselin Topalov, Match for the World Title Tibebreak/Rapid Round 4, Elista
Alexander Morozevich - Kiril Georgiev, European Club Cup, Fügen
Zavan Andriasian - Maxim Rodshtein, World Juniors Championship, Yerevan
Shen Yang - Eesha Karavade, World Juniors Championship, Yerevan
Tatev Abrahamyan - Hou Yifan, World Juniors Championship, Yerevan
Iva Videnova - Salome Melia, World Juniors Championship, Yerevan

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Kramnik - Topalov, Match Tibebreak/Rapid Round 4, Elista

Vladimir Kramnik against Veselin Topalov
during the world championship tiebreaks in Elista, Friday, October 13
Photo: Official Website of the World Chess Championship 2006

Vladimir Kramnik vs. Veselin Topalov
Match for the World Title, Tiebreak/Rapid Round 4
Elista, Kalmykia (Russia), October 2006

Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Be2

• More common is 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5.

8. -- Bb7 9. 0-0 Be7 10. e4 b4

• 10. -- 0-0 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Bd2 gives White an edge in central space.

11. e5 bxc3 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. bxc3 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5

• 14. -- 0-0 15. Ba3 Be7 gives White slightly better piece activity (Volkov-Filipenko, Kazan, 1995).

15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Ba3 Rc8 18. Nd4!?

• Kramnik is usually risk-adverse, but he needed to win this game in order to avoid the blitz phase of the tiebreaks.
• Safer (and more Kramnik-like) is 18. Rab1 and now:
• 19. -- Be7 19. Ne5 f6 20. Bc4 fxe5 21. Bxc5 Rc7 22. Rfd1 yields White an edge in piece activity; Black will have difficulty deveoping the King's Rook.
• 18. -- Bxc3? 19. Rfc1! Be4 20. Rb3 Bf6 21. Rxc5 Rxc5 22. Bxc5+ giving White serious winning chances.

18. -- Be7

• Black reenforces the Knight in order to open the c-file on his own terms when he chooses the time.
• 18. -- Kg8 19. Rfb1 Ne4 20. Bd3 Bd5 21. Bb4 g5 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 gives Black command of diagonals and activity on the c-file.

19. Rfd1 a6

• Black drives away the Bishop.
• The alternative 19. -- Ne4 20. Bb4 Bxb4 21. cxb4 Nc3 22. Re1 Rd8 23. Rac1 Nxa2 yields Black has a slight edge with more active pieces.

20. Bf1 Na4 21. Rab1!

• Malcolm Pein for the London Chess Center (TWIC) also praises this move. It activates White's Queen's Rook and gives White the initiative.
• If 21. Rdb1 Rc7 22. Bb4 Bxb4 23. cxb4 Ke7 24. Rc1 then:
• 24. -- Nc3 25. b5 axb5 26. Nxb5 Nxb5 27. Bxb5 Rxc1+ 28. Rxc1 is level.
• 24. -- Rc3 25. b5 axb5 26. Bxb5 Ra8 27. Bxa4 Rxc1+ 28. Rxc1 Rxa4 dooms White's a-pawn.

21. -- Be4 22. Rb3

• The text is the best way to protect the c-pawn.
• The position is balanced.
• If 22. Bxa6 Bxb1 23. Bxc8 Nxc3 24. Rc1 then:
• 34. -- e5 25. Ne6+ fxe6 26. Rxc3 Bxa3 27. Rxa3 give White an endge in piece activity and pawn structure.
• 24. -- Bxa3 25. Rxc3 Bb2 26. Nxe6+ Ke7 27. Rc7+ Kf6 envigorates Black's pieces.

22. -- Bxa3 23. Rxa3 Nc5 24. Nb3

• The Knight is guading both the pawn at a6 and the Bishop. White strikes at the overloaded piece,
• 24. f3 Bd5 25. c4 Bb7 26. Bd3 Ke7 27. Bc2 g6 28. Kf2 Rhd8 gives Black better mobility.

24. -- Ke7 25. Rd4

• The text move further exploits the overloaded Knight and sets Black a minor problem of what to do with the Bishop. The correct way to deal with the problem is to move the Bishop (see Black's next).
• The text is better than immediately taking the Knight: 25. Nxc5 Rxc5 26. Rd4 Bb7 27. Rg4 Rg8 28. Rh4 h6 29. Rb4 Rc7 is balanced.

25. -- Bg6 26. c4 Rc6?

• "This is a mistake" (Susan Polgar).
• 26. -- Nxb3 (suggested by Ms. Polgar and Fritz) 27. axb3 Rc6 28. h4 Rb8 29. g4 Bc2 30. Bg2 Rc7 yields Black the edge with his active Rooks.

Black: Veselin Topalov
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 26. -- Rc8c6

27. Nxc5!

• White wins a pawn. He must only drive the advantage home.

27. -- Rxc5 28. Rxa6 Rb8 29. Rd1

• While White has an extra pawn, Black has better pawn structure. Black's four pawns form a single mass, ready to help each other advance if and when the time is ripe. White has one island of three pawns and two isolated pawns. This diminishes White's advantage in material.
• With 29. Ra7+ Kf6 30. f4 Rb1 31. g4 h6 White immobilizes Black's pawns.

29. -- Rb2 30. Ra7+ Kf6 31. Ra1!

• White's a-pawn is solidly protected and will expand.
• 31. g3 Rf5 32. f4 Rc5 33. a4 Ra2 34. h3 Bc2 35. Rdd7 give White a strong position with two Rooks on the seventh rank.

31. -- Rf5 32. f3 Re5 33. Ra3 Rc2

• Black is trying everything possible to stop the advance of White's passed pawns.
• If 33. -- Bc2 then:
• 34. h4 Rh5 35. g3
• 35. -- Rc5 36. Re1 h6 37. Re2 Rxc4 38. Rxe6+ yields a position in which White's piece activity is likely to prove decisive.
• After 35. -- Re5 36. Rc3 Rc5 37. a4 Ke5 38. a5 the advance of White's a-pawn is decisive.
• 34. Ra8?! Bb1 35. Ra3 Re1 36. Rb3 Bxa2 37. Rxb2 Rxa1 gives White only a slight edge.

34. Rb3 Ra5 35. a4 Ke7

• White's plan is now to slither the Rook and pawn forward. It's awkward-looking, but effective.
• 35. -- h5 36. Rb5 Ra6 37. a5 h4 38. Rb6 Ra7 39. a6 +-

36. Rb5 Ra7 37. a5 Kd6 38. a6 Kc7

• White is still winning after 38. -- Kc6 39. Raa5 h5 40. g3 Bf5 41. h4 g6 42. c5

39. c5 Rc3 40. Raa5 Rc1 41. Rb3

• The text intends the 42. Rb6 and the advance of the c-pawn.
• 41. Ra3? is bad because of 41. -- Rxa6 42. Rxa6 Bd3 43. Ra7+ Kc8 and in order to avoid loss, White must force a draw by perpetual check on a7 and a8.

41. -- Kc6 42. Rb6+ Kc7 43. Kf2 Rc2+ 44. Ke3 Rxc5

• The move would be a blunder if the game were not already lost.
• After 44. -- e5 45. Be2 Rc3+ 46. Kd2 Rc2+ 47. Kd1 Black's Rook has nowhere to go.

45. Rb7+! 1-0

• After 45. Rb7+ Rxb7 46. Rxc5+ Kb6 47. axb7 White has won a Rook.
• Topalov resigns. Vladimir Kramnik is the reunified world champion.

[Lithos]

10. Interesting game

Not a pretty game though. Not sure what Topalov was thinking up at 25.

L-

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Morozevich - Georgiev, European Club Cup, Fügen

Alexander Morozevich
Photo: the Official website of the 2006 European Club Cup

Alexander Morozovich (Tomsk-400) vs. Kiril Georgiev (Alkaloid Skopje)
European Club Cup, Round 3/Board 1
Fügen, Austria, October 2006

Open Royal Game: Classical Defense (Scotch Opening)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6. c3 Nge7 7. Nc2 Bxe3 8. Nxe3 Qe5 9. Nd2 d5

• The more common 9. -- 0-0 10. Bc4 b5 11. Bb3 b4 12. Rc1 bxc3 13. Rxc3 Nd4 is level.

10. Bd3 dxe4 11. Bxe4

• 11. Nxe4? Be6 12. Qa4 0-0-0 13. Rd1 f5 leaves Black with a strong position based on piece activity.

11. -- Be6 12. Qc2!?

• The threat against the h-pawn is idle, but the move has the benefit of giving protection to the Bishop.
• 12. Qa4 0-0-0 13. 0-0-0 f5 14. Bf3 is perfectly balanced.

12. -- 0-0-0

• Black now takes over the initiative.
• If 12. -- h6 13. 0-0-0then:
• 13. -- 0-0 14. Ndc4 Qc5 15. Bd3 Rad8 16. Rhe1 b5 17. b4 and Black's piece activity is slightly better.
• 13. -- 0-0-0 14. Qa4 f5 15. Bf3 Qc5 16. Rhe1 Ne5 17. Be2 is even.

13. Nf3 Qb5 14. b4 Rhe8 15. a4 Qh5 16. 0-0

• Black has active pieces, but White has queenside space.
• After 16. b5 Ne5 17. Nd4 Nd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. Bxd5 Rxd5 20. 0-0 Ng4 Black's control of the e-file is balanced by White's queenside and central space

16. -- f5 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. b5!?

• White moves to exapand on the queenside; while this move creats a hole at a5, it weakens Black's grip on d4, allowing White to move his Knight there.

Na5 19. Nd4 f4

• Black moves to disrupt Black's forces.
• After 19. -- g6?! 20. Nxe6 Rxe6 21. Rad1 Rdd6 22. Rxd6 Rxd6 23. Qa2 Black's control of the d-file is matched by White's command of the a2g8 diagonal and his queenside space.

20. Nef5 Bxf5 21. Nxf5 Qg6?!

• This move does nothing to further Black's advantage.
• If 21. -- Re5 then:
• 22. Nd4 Rde8 23. Qd1 Qxd1 24. Raxd1 Nc4 and Black stands slightly better given his control of the e-file.
• 22. Nxg7? Qg4 23. Rad1 Rg8 24. f3 Qxg7 Black has serious threats.

22. Rae1 Kb8 23. Re4

• White is now mobilizing his forces, but Black's active Rooks are still powerful.
• 23. Rxe8 Rxe8 24. Qd3 Nc4 25. Qxc4 Qxf5 26. f3 is balanced.

23. -- f3!

• Black forces a weakness in White's position.

24. g3 b6

• At last, there is a weakness in Black's position, but White was ready to take control.
• If 24. -- Rf8 25. Nd4then:
• 25. -- h5 26. Rfe1 Rf6 27. R1e3 Nc4 28. Qd3 Nxe3 29. Nc6+! will leave White with a slight edge after 29. -- bxc6 30. Qxd8+ Kb7 31. bxc6+ Rxc6 32. Rb4+ Rb6 33. fxg3.
• 25. -- Nc4 26. Rfe1 Nd6 27. R4e3 Nf5 28. Nxf5 Rxf5 29. Qd3! and White has a clear advantage given to his superior piece coordination.
else if 24. -- Nb3 25. Rd1 Nc5 26. Re3then:
• 26. -- h5 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxf3 h4 29. a5 and White has a slight plus owing to his queenside space.
• 26. -- Ne6 27. Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxf3 h5 29. h4 gives White a strong position owing to his space on both wings.

25. Rf4 Re2?

• 25. -- Rf8 26. Re1 Rf6 27. Rd4 Nb7 28. Rxd8+ Nxd8 29. Nd4 still gives White better piece activity to complement his spatial plus on the queenside.

26. Qb1 Rdd2

• This move is not as strong as it looks. Of course, there is no way to save the f-pawn.
• 26. -- Rde8 27. h3 Qh5 28. Nxg7 Qxh3 29. Rxf3 Qg4 30. Rf7 gives White a strong position with serious threats.
• White now takes the f-pawn, leaving his position adequately defended against Black's former threats.

27. Rxf3 Rb2 28. Qd1?

• White overshoots his mark and misses a winning line.
• Correct is 28. Qc1 Nb3 29. Ne7 when:
• 29. -- Qe8 30. Nc6+ Kb7 31. Qg5 gives White serious threats against the back rank.
• After Black deals with the back invader in 29. -- Rxe7 30. Qxb2 Nc5 31. Rf8+ White's edge in space will be exploited to a win.

28. -- Red2 29. Qa1 Ra2 30. Qe1 Re2 31. Qc1 Kb7?

• The text looks like a prophylactic move, but it anticipates no threat.
• 31. -- Red2 32. Nd4 Kb7 33. Qb1 Qxb1 34. Rxb1 Rxa4 35. Rf7 leaves White with only a slight edge in space.

32. Qf4 Nb3 33. Rd3 Qe6 34. Rd8 Rad2 35. Rh8 Qe4

• After 35. -- Re1 36. Ne3 Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 Rb2 38. Kg2 Nc5 39. Qf8 Black avoids mate on b8 only at the cost of material.

Black: Kiril Georgiev
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White: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 35. -- Qf4e4

36. Nd6+!!

• White play a beautiful clearing sacrifice allowing his Queen to join the Rook on the back rank.
• The position is equal after 36. a5 bxa5 37. Qxe4+ Rxe4 38. Rxh7 g6 39. Nh4 Rc4

36. -- cxd6 37. Qf8 Qe8 38. Qxe8 1-0

• 38. Qxe8 Rxe8 39. Rxe8 leves White and exchange and a pawn to the good.
• Georgiev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Andriasian - Rodshtein, World Juniors Championships, Yerevan

Zavan Andriasian
Photo: ChessBase.com

Zavan Andriasian vs. Maxim Rodshtein
World Junior Championships, Round 10
Yerevan, October 2006

French Exchange Game: Tarrasch Opening

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6

• If 10. -- Qc7 11. Qe2 Bd6 12. h3 Bd7 then:
• 13. Nb5 Bxb5 14. Bxb5+ Nd7 15. Rd1 0-0-0 16. Be3 and White's pieces are more active.
• 13. Bg5 0-0 14. Rad1 Nd5 15. Rfe1 and White's pieces are active, but Black has sufficient defensive resources.

11. Re1 Bd7 12. Bg5 Qc7

• 12. -- h6 13. Bh4 Rd8 14. Nf5 Qf4 15. Bd3 Bb5 16. Bg3 is unclear.

Black: Name
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White: Name
Position after 12. -- Qd6c7

13. Bxe6!

• White will get two pawns for the Bishop, but with a superior pawn structure and greater activity for his pieces.
• 13. Bxf6 Qxc4 14. Bh4 Bc5 15. Nf5 Bc6 16. b3 Qc3 17. Nd6+ Kf8 is a level game.

13. -- Bxe6

• If 13. -- fxe6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Qh5+ Ke7 16. Nf5+ Kd8 17. Qf7 then:
• 17. -- Kc8 18. Qxf6 Rg8 and Black has a piece for two pawns.
• 17. -- exf5? 18. Qxf6+ Kc8 19. Qxh8 and White enjoys a material edge with a Rook and two pawns over two Bishops.

14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Rxe6+ Kf7

• The position is level.
• 16. -- Be7? 17. Qh5+ Kf8 18. Rae1 will give White a huge edge when the Bishop falls.

17. Qd5 Kg7 18. Qf5 Qf7 19. Rd1 Be7

• 19. -- h5 20. Re3 Kh6 21. Rg3 Re8 22. Qf4+ Kh7 23. Qf5+ Kh6 invites a draw by repetition.

20. Rd7 Rhe8 21. g3 Rab8 22. h4 h5 23. c4 b6

• If 23. -- a5 24. c5 a4 25. Kg2 Kg8 26. b3 then:
• 26. -- axb3 27. axb3 Kg7 28. b4 and Black's material plus is balanced by White's piece activity.
• 26. -- a3? 27. b4 Kg7 28. b5 and White's queenside space gives him a winning edge.

24. b4 Rbc8?

• The allows a series of exchanges in which White emerges with a winning edge.
• 24. -- a5 25. b5 a4 26. a3 Kg8 27. Re4 Kg7 28. g4 gives White and edge in space and pawn structure to balance Black's material plus.

Black: Maxim Rodshtein
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White: Zaven Andriasian
Position after 34. -- Rb8c8

25. Rexe7!

• 25. Rdxe7! transposes into the text.

25. -- Rxe7 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Qxc8 Qxb4 28. Qxa6

• White is two pawns up.

28. -- Qe1+ 29. Kg2 Qe4+ 30. Kh2 Qd4

• If 30. -- Qc6 31. Qb5 Qc7 32. a5 Kg6 33. Kg2 Qd6 34. a5 then after the exchange of pawns White would only need to exchange Queens to win easily.

31. Kg1 Kh6 32. Qa4 Kg7 33. Qb3 Kg6

• After 33. -- Qa1+ 34. Kg2 Qd4 35. a4 Qe4+ 36. Kh2 Qd4 37. Kg1 White will soon start picking off White's weak pawns.

34. a3 Kg7 35. Kg2 Qd6 36. Qb5

• After 36. Qf3 Qc5 37. Qd5 Qc7 38. Kf3 Kg6 39. a4 Kh6 40. Qe6 Black's pawns fall.

36. -- Kh6 37. a4 Qd4 38. Qd5 Qc3 39. Qd6 1-0

• If after 39. -- Qb2 40. c5 bxc5 41. Qxc5 Kg6 42. Qb5 the Queens are exchanged, then White wins effortlessly.
• After 39. -- Kg6 40. Qxb6 Qxc4 41. a5 the pawn keeps going.
• Rodshtein resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Shen - Karavade, World Juniors Championships, Yerevan

Shen Yang
Photo: ChessBase.com

Shen Yang vs. Eesha Karavade
World Junior Championships, Round 2
Yerevan, October 2006

Open Siclian Game: Najdorf Defense (Opocensky Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Kh1 b6

• A good alternative is 9. -- b5 10. f4 Bb7 11. Bf3 Nbd7 12. Qd3 Re8 13. Bd2 Qc7

10. Be3 Bb7 11. f3 b5 12. a4

• Also satisfactory is 12. Qd2 Nbd7 13. Rfe1 Qc7 14. Rad1 b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5

12. -- b4 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 f5!?

• Black strikes out on the kingside; most often in an Open Sicilian, Black's directs aggression on the other wing.
• 14. -- Nd7 15. Qd2 Nf6 16. Bc4 Qc7 17. Qd3 Rfc8 is level.

15. a5 Nd7?!

• This is a dubious move. The b-pawn is vulnerable.
• Better is 15. -- Qd7 16. Qd3 Rc8 17. Bd2 Qb5 18. Rfe1 g6 19. Qxb5 axb5 yielding a spatial edge for Black.

16. Ra4!

• White immediately take advantage of White's inaccuracy.
• 16. f4 Rc8 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. d6 Bg5 19. Bd2 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 is even.

16. -- Nf6 17. Bc4

• White has a firm grip on the center. Black can make no progress there.
• Black could consider 17. -- f4 Rxb4 Qd7 19. Bf2 but White is still strong.

17. -- Qd7 18. Rxb4 Rfc8 19. Bg5?!

• Better is 19. Qd3 when:
• 19. -- Re8 20. Re1 Rab8 21. c3 Rec8 22. Nd2 leaves White's central pressure still making it difficult for Black to exploit her spatial advatage there.
• After the exchange sacrifice 19. -- Rxc4 20. Rxc4 Bxd5 21. Rc3 Bf7 22. Qd1 Rb8 23. Bd2 Black will still not be able to make headway in the center.

19. -- Rxc4!

• Black sacrifices the exchange in an attempt to weaken White's stranglehold in the center. This almost works.
• 19. -- Rab8 20. Qd3 Re8 21. Bd2 Ra8 22. Bc3 Rec8 23. Nd2 leaves White superior in the center.

20. Rxc4 Bxd5?

• This is the wrong way to capture the pawn.
• If 20. -- Nxd5! 21. Bxe7 Ne3 22. Qd3 Nxf1 then:
• after 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Bxd6 Rd8 25. Bc5 gives Black the initiative.
• 23. Bxd6 Rd8 24. Nc5 Qxd6 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 gices chances to both sides.
• White has a winning edge.

21. Rb4 Bc6 22. Qd2 d5 23. Rb6 d4!

• Black's game is lost, but making a move in the center is her best shot.
• If 23. -- Bd8 24. Nc5 Qc8 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Re1 then:
• 26. -- e4 27. fxe4 fxe4 28. Rf1 Whites material plus outweighes Black's center pawns.
• after 26. -- Bd8 27. Rxe5 Bxb6 28. axb6 White's command of the e-file combined with her advanced passed pawn will prove decisive.

24. Re1 Bd6 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. c3 Bc7 27. cxd4!

• White returns the exchange, giving her a dangerous passed pawn.
• The text is stronger than 27. Rb4 Bd6 28. Rb6 Bc7 29. cxd4 Bxb6 30. axb6 Qd5 31. Na5.

27. -- Bxb6 28. axb6 Qd5

• Black attempts to divert White from her purpose by attacking the loose Knight.
• 28. -- Rb8 29. dxe5 Qxd2 30. Nxd2 fxe5 31. Rxe5 Rxb6 32. b3 leaves White a pawn up.

Black: Eesha Karavade
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White: Shen Yang
Position after 28. -- Qd7d5

29. dxe5!!

• White emerges with three pawns for the Knight and a won position.

29. -- Qxb3

• 29. -- Qxd2 30. Nxd2 fxe5 31. Nc4 e4 32. Na5 Bd5 33. Rd1 +/-

30. exf6 Qf7 31. Qd6?

• White jeopardizes her victory.
• 31. b7 Bxb7 32. Qg5+ Qg6 33. f7+ Kxf7 34. Qe7+ Kg8 35. Qxb7 wins.

31. -- Re8?

• Black misses the chance.
• 31. -- Qd7 32. Qg3+ Kh8 33. Qe5 Kg8 34. b4 Rf8 35. Qe7 Rf7 levels the game.

32. Qg3+!

• Any further resistance is futile.
• Also winning is32. Rxe8+ Qxe8 33. Qg3+ Kf7 34. b7 Bxb7 35. Qg7+ Ke6 36. Qxb7

32. -- Kf8 33. Qg7+ 1-0

• 33. Qg7+ Qxg7 34. fxg7+ Kxg7 35. Rxe8 Bxe8 36. b7 +-
• Ms. Karavade resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Abrahamyan - Hou, World Juniors Championships, Yerevan

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com

Tatev Abrahamyan vs. Hou Yifan
World Junior Championships, Round 13
Yerevan, October 2006

Open Silcilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Byrne Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7

• If 7. -- Be6 8. Be2 d5 9. exd5 then:
• 9. -- Bxd5 10. 0-0 Nc6 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. Bc4 gives White greater piece activity.
• 9. -- Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. 0-0 Nc6 12. Re1 also gives White the upper hand in piece activity.

8. f3 Be6

• 8. -- Qc7 9. Be2 0-0 10. 0-0 b5 11. f4 Bb7 12. Bf3 yields White a solid center.

9. Qd2 0-0 10. 0-0-0 Nbd7

• 10. -- Bxb3 11. axb3 Nc6 12. g3 Nb4 13. Kb1 Rc8 14. h4 gives White an advantage in kingside space.

11. g4 b5 12. g5 b4 13. Ne2

• Although Black's game appears cramped, she is able to defend actively.
• After 13. gxf6 bxc3 14. Qxc3 Nxf6 15. Rg1 Rc8 16. Qd2 Rc6 17. Na5 Whate has a slight spatial plus.

13. -- Ne8 14. f4 a5 15. f5?!

• White begins to lose her way.
• After 15. Kb1 Nb6 16. h4 a4 17. Na1 Nc4 18. Qc1 a3 19. b3 White has the edge in space on the kingside, but Black is some compensation in space on the other wing.

15. -- a4 16. fxe6 axb3 17. exf7+?!

• White fails to see the danger of the infectious pawn at b3 and lets it develope into gangreen.
• Better is the to elimiate the infection with 17. cxb3 fx36 18. Bb3 Rxa2 19. Bxe6+ Kh8 20. Kb1 Qa5 with a level position.
• Black's objective now is to take the a-pawn.

17. -- Rxf7 18. Kb1?

• This is the losing move.
• White's last chance is 18. cxb3 Rxa2 when:
• after 19. Ng3 Rxf1 20. Rhxf1 Ra1+ 21. Kc2 Black forces a draw be repetition after 21. -- Qc8+ 22. Kd3 Qa6+ 23. Kc2 Qc6+ 24. Kd3 Qb5+ 25. Kc2
• while 19. g6 hxg6 20. Ng3 Rf8 21. Bb5 Ra5 22. Bc4+ Kh8 23. Kb1 Nef6 yields an unclear position.

18. -- bxc2+ 19. Kxc2

• Black cannot yet take the a-pawn.
• 19. -- Rxa2? 20. Nc1 b3+ 21. Kxb3! Ra5 22. Bc4! and White wins.

Black: Hou Yifan
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White: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 19.Kb1xc2

• Since Black cannot play 19. -- Rxa2, she must first prepare the move. White is able to play two moves to protect her a-pawn, Kb1 and Nc1, so Black will have to invest time in removing the defenders. This means doubling up the Rooks on the a-file (three moves: the Knight now at d7, the Bishop at e7 and the Rook —Nb6, Bany and —Rfa2. To eliminate the Knight at c1, Black will want to move the Bishop to g5, where a White pawn currently resides, then take the Knight at c1. That's two more moves (Bxg5 and Bxc1). The pawn at g5 is protected by the Bishop at e3, which is supported by the Queen; consequently it will be necessary to secure c4 for a Knight and maintain it there. Since Black can already count —Nb6 as one of her moves, she will also need to count —Nc4, -- Nd6-c4 and -- Nxe3 and, before playing —Nd6, she will have to clear her pawn that currently occupies the square (-- d5). After all that, she can play Rxa2.
  
  To recap, ten moves are required to take the pawn at a2: 1. d5 2. Nb6 3. Nd6 4. N(either)c4 5. (after Bxc4) -- Nxc4, 6. -- Nxe3, 7. -- Bxg5 8. -- Bxc1, 9. -- Rfa2 and 10. -- Rxa2. Meanwhile, White will play two moves to protect the pawn at a2, one to capture the pawn at d5, one to capture a Knight at c4. one for his Queen to flee from d2, another to capture the Knight at e3 (move order is important for Black or the two moves by the White Queen may be accomplished in one), one to capture the Bishop at c1, and another move to play Qb3, adding more protection to the a-pawn and attacking the pawn at b4. White may deal with the treat to b4 by playing —Qd6, an eleventh move. Total: White 11, Black 8.
  
  Since it's Black's move in the position, we need only count ten moves for White, but that still leaves Black two short in her calculations. There is nothing more White will be able to do to protect her pawn, so White will most likely find a loose pawn to attack or to advance the d-pawn. Black feels she can deal with that at the end of the combination.

19. -- Nb6 20. Nc1 d5!

• 20. -- Qc7+ 21. Kb1 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Qxc4 23. Qg2 Nc7 24. g6 yields White better command of open lines.

21. exd5 Nd6 22. Kb1 Nbc4!

• The Knight is established on c4.

23. Bxc4 Nxc4 24. Qe2 Nxe3

• The Bishop is taken.

25. Qxe3 Bxg5 26. Qb3 Qd6

• The text move also serves to prevent White from playing 27. d6, pinning the Rook at f7.
• The immediate 26. -- Rfa7? would be premature: 27. d6+ Kh8 28. Rd3 e4 29. Rd4 Bxc1 30. Rxc1 Rxa2 and White escapes.

27. Rhe1

• White tries to attack Black's weak pawns, but they are covered.
• If 27. h4 Bxc1 28. Rxc1 Qg6+ 29. Ka1 Rfa7 then:
• 30. d6+ Kh8 31. Rc6 Qg4 gives Black the advantage rooted in her activity in the a-file.
• after 30. Rc6 Rxa2+ 31. Qxa2 Rxa2+ 32. Kxa2 Qd3 33. Rc5 e4 Black's Queen is better than White's uncoordinated Rooks.
• 27. a3 is out of the question because of 27. -- bxa3 28. bxa3 Rxa3.

Black: Hou Yifan
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White: Tatev Abrahamyan
Position after 27. Rh1e1

27. -- Rfa7!

• The last pieces of the plan fall in place.

28. Re4 Bxc1 29. Rxc1 Rxa2

• Eleven moves. It is done. Black has an easy win.

30. Rc6

• 30. Rc8+ Rxc8 31. Qxa2 Qc5 32. d6+ Kh8 33. Qa4 Qxd6 34. Qb3 Qd7 leaves Black a pawn up.

30. -- Ra1+ 31. Kc2 Qf8 32. d6+ Kh8 33. Qd3

• After 33. Qc4 b3+ 34. Kxb3 Qf3+ 35. Qc3 Qd1+ 36. Qc2 Qd5+ Black has White in a mating mating net.

33. -- Qf2+ 34. Re2 b3+ 35. Kxb3 Rb8+ 36. Kc3 Rc1+ 37. Rc2

• After 37. Kd2 Qf4+ 38. Qe3 Rxc6 39. Qxf4 exf4 40. d7 Rd6+ 41. Ke1 Rxd7 Black is a pawn up and will have no trouble picking off White's weak pawns.
• Ms. Abrahmayan decides to fall on her sword.

37. -- Rxc2+ 38. Qxc2 Qd4# 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Videnova - Melia, World Juniors Championships, Yerevan

Salome Melia
Photo: ChessBase.com

Iva Videnova vs. Salome Melia
World Junior Championships, Round 1
Yerevan, Armenia October 2006

German Exchange Game: Panov Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3

• Also playable is 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Rc1 0-0 8. Nf3 when:
• 8. -- Nc6 9. Be2 dxc4 10. Bxc4
• 8. -- h6 9. Bf4 Qb6

6. -- Bb4 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bd2 Nc6 9. Bd3

• 9. Rc1 0-0 10. Bd3 Qb6 11. Qc2 f5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. 0-0 Bxd2 gives Black just the slightest edge in space.

9. -- 0-0 10. 0-0 Nf6 11. Qe2

• 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Qc2 h6 13. Rfd1 Nd5 14. a3 Qb6 15. Bc4 is balanced.

11. -- b6

• Black goes for the more positional approach to the game.
• Setting off the fireworks immediately with 11. -- Nxd4 12. Nxd4 Qxd4 13. Rad1 e5 14. h3 Be6 15. a3 Be7 comes out equal.

12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Rac1 Bxd2

• Black will want to keep the c-file blocked by maintaining her Knight at c6. She exchanages the Bishop now so as not to take time to retreat it later.
• If 13. -- Bb7 14. Neg5 Nf6 then:
• 15. Nxh7 Bxd2 16. Nxf6+ Qxf6 17. Qxd2 gives White an extra pawn.
• 15. Bxh7+?! Nxh7 16. Nxh7 Bxd2 17. Qxd2 Kxh7 and White must give up the exchange of remain a piece down.

14. Qxd2 Bb7

• Again, Black opts to keep the c-file blocked.
• 14. -- Ncb4 15. Bc4 Bb7 16. Neg5 h6 17. Ne4 Rc8 18. Rfe1 Nc6 and Black has just a little bit better mobility.

15. Neg5 h6 16. Nh3?!

• This is played with the idea of exchanging the Knight at f4.
• Better is 16. Ne4 Rc8 17. Rfe1 Nce7 18. Rxc8 Nxc8 19. Ne5 Nd6 20. Bc2 Nxe4 which is level.

16. -- Qd6!

• Black puts an end to any ideas White had about exchaging on f4; this move also accentuates Black's grip on the queenside dark squares.
• Allowing the exchange with 16. -- Rc8 17. Nf4 Nxf4 18. Qxf4 Nb4 19. Rxc8 Qxc8 20. Bb1 Qa8 gives Black a slight edge in pawn structure.

17. Bb1 Rfd8 18. Rfd1 Rac8 19. Qd3

• Since Black has dominace of the dark squares, White moves her queen to where her majesty's fortunes look a little better.
• 19. a3 Rc7 20. b4 a6 21. Ba2 Rcd7 22. Bb3 Nde7 23. Qb2 b5 gives Black an edge in pawn structure.

19. -- Nf6 20. a3 Rc7

• This is a flexible move palyed with the idea of doubling the Rooks on either the c- or d-file, depending on circumstances.
• 20. -- a5 21. Qb3 Qd5 22. Qxd5 Rxd5 23. Nf4 Rd6 24. Ne2 Ba6 gives Black a slight advantage in pawnstructure and piece mobility.

21. Qe3

• White adds to the protection of the weak e-pawn.
• If 21. Rc3 then:
• 21. -- Rcd7
• after 22. Qb5 Qd5 23. Qf1 e5 24. Bf5 Re7 25. Bc2 Nxd4 White has a strong position in terms of pawn structure, space and piece mobility.
• 22. Qd2 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Qe7 24. Qxd7 Nxd7 25. Rdc1 Bxf3 gives Black the advatage of the Queen against uncoordinated pieces.
• 21. -- Rdc8 22. Re1 a6 23. Ba2
• 23. -- Nd5 24. Bxd5 Qxd5 25. Nf4 Qd6 leaves Bkack with better mobility and pawn structure.
• 23. -- Ne7 24. Rxc7 Rxc7 25. Ne5 Be4 allows Black to maintain her assault on the e-pawn.

21. -- Rcd7 22. Bc2 Rc7 23. Ba4

• The Knight at c6 is too well protected for White's last move to have any effect.
• If 23. Qf4 Qxf4 24. Nxf4 Rdc8 25. Ne1 Na5 then:
• 26. b4 Nb3 27. Rb1 Nxd4 28. Rxd4 e5 leaves Black a pawn up with greater piece activity, but White still has adequate defensive resources.
• after 26. Nfd3 Kf8 27. Ba4 Bc6 28. Bxc6 Nxc6 Black maintains pressure on the d-pawn.

23. -- Nd5 24. Qd2 Nce7 25. Rxc7?!

• This is an inaccurate move that offers Black an opportunity to take charge.
• Better is 25. Ne5 Rxc1 26. Rxc1 Nf6 27. Qb4 Qxb4 28. axb4 Nfd5 leaving Black with only a small edge in piece adtivity.

25. -- Qxc7?!

• Black misses her chance take the upper hand.
• After 25. -- Nxc7 26. Qe2 Nf5 27. Bc2 Bxf3 28. Qxf3 Nb5 29. Qg4 Nbxd4 Black is a pawn up with greater activity.

26. Rc1 Qd6 27. Ne5 Nf6 28. Qc2?

• White misses her chance to equalize. Her game is now lost.
• If 28. Qb4 Qxb4 29. axb4 Rxd4 30. Rc7 b5 then:
• 31. Bb3 Be4 32. Rxe7 Rxb4 with equal chances.
• After 31. Rxb7 bxa4 32. Kf1 Nc8 although Black is a pawn up, the win is a long ways off.

28. -- Rc8 29. Qd2

• No better for Black is 29. Nc4 Qxd4 30. Rd1 Qh4 31. b3 Qg4 32. f3 Bxf3 leves Black two pawns up.

29. -- Rxc1+!

• Black sizes the opportunity to win decisively.
• The text is better than 29. -- Nf5 30. Rxc8+ Bxc8 31. Nc6 Bd7 32. Qf4 Qxf4 33. Nxf4 although Black still wins.

30. Qxc1 Qxd4 31. Nc4

Black: Salome Melia
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White: Iva Videnova
Position after 31. Ne5c4

31. -- Bxg2!!

• Black chooses the most beautiful and convincing win.
• Also winning is 31. -- b5 32. Na5 when:
• 32. -- Bxg2 33. Kxg2 musch as in the actual game. -+
• 32. -- bxa4 33. Nxb7 Nd7 34. Na5 Ne5 35. Qc2 Nd5 and Black is a pawn up with much greater activity, but the win will take time.

32. Kxg2 Qg4+ 33. Kh1 Qxh3 34. Ne3 Ng4 35. Nxg4 Qf3+ 36. 0-1

• After 36. Kg1 Qxg4+ wins the Bishop.
• Ms. Videnova resigns.