The JRChess Report for October 29: Return of the First Lady of Chess

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending October 29


Image: Illustration by Sir John Tenniel for Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
from xahlee.org

Contents

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

[Jack Rabbit]

5. News for the week ending October 29

Mamedyarov, Judit Polgar share first in Crown Group



The Crown Group, a quadrangular tournament at the center of the annual Essent Chess Tournament in Hoogeveen, Holland, was won yesterday by Azerbaijani grandmaster Shakhryar Mamedyarov, who edged out the greatest woman player of all time, Hungarian grandmaster Judit Polgar, by virtue of tiebreak points.

Unofficial Cross Table
Essent International Tournament/Crown Group
Hoogeveen, Holland

------------------------- 1. 2. 3. 4. T- (W)
1 Shakhryar Mamedyarov . .-- ½1 10 11 4½ (4)
2 Judit Polgar . . . . . .½0 -- 11 11 4½ (4)
3 Veselin Topalov. . . . .01 00 -- ½1 2½ (2)
4 Ivan Sokolov . . . . . .00 00 ½0 -- .½ (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

Mamedyarov and Ms. Polgar each won 4, lost one and drew one in the six-round event. What cost Ms. Polgar first place was her fifth-round loss to Mamedyarov. To her credit, she played for a win although she needed only a draw to cinch at least a share of first prize.

Mamedyarov's sole loss came at the hands of former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, playing in his first event since losing the world championship reunification match to Vladimir Kramnik earlier this month. Topalov got off to a slow start, as he often does, by losing his first two games. Topalov is famous for his strong finishes, but in a six-round tournament he had no time to catch up. Topalov finished with 2½ points.

Ivan Sokolov, the Bosnian-born Dutch grandmaster, could only score a draw for his efforts in the event.

Ms. Polgar was making her first appearance in a major event since delivering her second child earlier this year.

The Crown Group event took place during an international open tournament, which was won be Bulgarian grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov, who serves Topalov as a second. Cheparinov scored 7 points in nine rounds to edge out Dutch grandmaster Jan Werle on tiebreak points.

Eighty-four players competed in the open tournament.


Domínguez wins in Barcelona



Cuban grandmaster Lanier Domínguez won the Magistral Cuitat de Barcelona tournament in the Catalonian capital Friday with 8 points in nine rounds.

Domínguez, 23, has spent much of his time in the shadow of Cuba's other young grandmaster, Lazaro Bruzón. He won 7 and drew two without a loss.

Finishing a distant second was Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk, who lost to Domínguez in the last round, with 6½ points.

Unofficial Cross Table
Magistral International Tournament
Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain)

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 T- (W)
.1 Lanier Domínguez . . . .- 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 8. (7)
.2 Vassily Ivanchuk . . . .0 - 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 6½ (6)
.3 Oleg Korneev . . . . . .½ 1 - 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 5½ (3)
.4 Viktor Bologan . . . . .0 0 1 - 1 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 5. (4)
.5 Julio Granda . . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 - 0 1 1 ½ 1 4. (3)
.6 Fernando Peralta . . . .0 ½ ½ 0 1 - 0 ½ ½ 1 4. (2)
.7 Marc Narciso . . . . . .0 0 ½ ½ 0 1 - 1 ½ ½ 4. (2)
.8 José Manuel López. . . .0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ - ½ 1 3½ (1)
.9 Jan Timman . . . . . . .½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ - 0 2½ (0)
10 José Antonio Lacasa. . .0 0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 1 - 2. (1)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break


Nijboer takes Calvia Open

Dutch grandmaster Friso Nijboer took first prize in the international open tournament of the third annual Calvia Festival de Ajedrez in Calvia on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Mallorca.



Friso Nijboer in his sixth-round game with Swedish grandmaster Pia Cramling
Photo: Official website of the 2006 Calvia Festival de Ajedrez

Mh. Nijboer scored 7½ points in nine rounds to finish ahead of Aleska Strikovic of Serbia and 54-year-old Oleg Romanishin of Ukraine.

One American competed in the event, IM-elect Emory Tate of Indiana, who won 5 and lost 4 with no draws.

Pia Cramling of Sweden began the event with 4 points in the first 5 rounds to score among the leaders, but then could manage on a point and a half in the last four rounds.

There were 117 participants in the international open.


Cap d'Agne rapid tournament begins



The seventh annual rapid chess event in the resort of Cap d'Agne in southern France began Friday.

The main event is the master tournament consisting of sixteen player divided into two groups.

The A Group is made up of Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine), Larent Fressinet (France), Pentela Harikrishna (India), Alexandra Kosteniuk (Russia), 13-year-old Parimarjan Negi (India), Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria) and Marie Sebag (France).

The B Group consists of Etienne Bacrot (France), 15-year-old Magnus Carlsen (Norway), former world champion Anatoly Karpov (Russia), Andrei Volokitin (Ukraine), 16-year=old Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Koneru Humpy (India), Zhao Xue (China) and Almira Skripchenko (France).

The final two rounds of the preliminary event will be played today, which will be followed by a single-elimination phase among the top four finishers in each group.

After five rounds, Karjakin and Harikrishna lead the A Group with 3½ points each; in the B Group, Volokitin leads with 4½ points followed by Carlsen with 3½.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update: Quarter Final matches set at Cap d'Agne

The final standings of the seven round prelimiary event:

. . . . . GROUP A . . . . . . . . . . . . . GROUP B . . . . . . .

1. Sergey Karjakin . . . .5. . . . 1. Andreï Volokitin. . . .5½ .
2. Laurent Fressinet . . .4½ . . . 2. Magnus Carlsen. . . . .4½ .
3. Teïmour Radjabov. . . .4½ . . . 3. Etienne Bacrot* . . . .3½ .
4. Pentala Harikrishna . .4. . . . 4. Zhao Xue* . . . . . . .3½ .
_________________________________________________________________
5. Antoaneta Stefanova . .3½ . . . 5. Koneru Humpy* . . . . .3½ .
6. Parimarjan Negi . . . .3. . . . 6. Anatoly Karpov* . . . .3½ .
7. Marie Sebag . . . . . .2. . . . 7. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.2½ .
8. Alexandra Kosteniuk . .1½ . . . 8. Almira Skripchenko. . .1½ .

*A six-round playoff was required to determine the last two qualifiers among the four players in Group B who tied for third. The final result was M. Bacrot 4½, Ms. Zhao 3½, G. Karpov and Ms. Koneru, 2 each.

Quarter Final Schedule:

Karjakin vs. Zhao Game 1: Monday 14:30hrs GMT+1 (5:30 am PST) Game 2: 17:30 (8:30 am PST)
Carlsen vs. Fressinet Game 1: Monday 18:00hrs GMT+1 (9:00 am PST) Game 2: 21:00 (12:00 pm PST)
Radjabov vs. Bacrot Game 1: Tuesday 14:30hrs GMT+1 (5:30 am PST) Game 2: 17:30 (8:30 am PST)
Volokitin vs. Harikrishna Game 1: Tuesday 18:00hrs GMT+1 (9:00 am PST) Game 2: 21:00 (12:00 pm PST)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. 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]

7. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Judit Polgar - Veselin Topalov, Essent Chess Tournament/Crown Group, Hoogeveen
Julio Granda - Lanier Domínguez, Magistral International Tournament, Barcelona
Emory Tate - Sebastian Pozzo, International Open Tournament, Calvia, Plama de Mallorca
Vassily Ivanchuk - Robert Ruck, European Club Cup, Fügen
Maia Chiburdanidze - Nana Dzagnidze, European Club Cup, Fügen
Nino Khurtsidze, European Club Cup, Fügen

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Polgar - Topalov, Crown Group, Hoogeveen

Judit Polgar
Photo: Free Radio News (Germany)

Judit Polgar vs. Veselin Topalov
Essent Chest Tournament, Crown Group, Round 2
Hoogeveen, October 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense (Byrne Attack)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7. g4 h6 8. Bg2

• Also good is 8. Rg1 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bg2

8. -- g5?!

• Black stops the advance of the g-pawn, but all but rules out castling in the process.
• Better is 8. -- e5 9. Nf5 g6 10. Nxh6 Bxh6 11. Bxh6 Nxg4 12. Bd2 Rxh2 leaving Black a pawn to the good.

9. Qe2

• White attempts to deploy the Queen where it will have more square to which to move later.
• Better would have been to suppoth the g-pawn with 9. h3 Bg7 10. Qd2 when:
• After 10. -- Nbd7 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. 0-0-0 b5 13. e5 White has a spatial advantage.
• After 10. -- Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. 0-0-0 d5 13. f4 White enjoys an edge in space on the kingside and in the center.

9. -- Nbd7

• The Knight is headed for a central post.
• After 9. -- Bg7 10. 0-0-0 Qe7 11. h3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qd2 White maintains her spatial advantage.

10. 0-0-0 Ne5 11. h3 Nfd7

• White's advantage in space is cramping Black's movements.
• Black might do better after 11. -- Ng6 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. Qd2 Bd7 14. h4 gxh4 15. g5 Ng4 when he can exchange some minor pieces so that White's advantage is less important.

12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 b5!

• Since White has an edge on the kingside and center, Black needs to grab some space where he can.
• 13. -- Qc7 14. Rhf1 Bg7 15. Nf3 b6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qd2 leaaves White with more options than Blacks.

14. Rhf1 Bb7

• Black misses an opportunity to take with initiative with 14. -- b4! 15. Nb1 Qa5 16. Bd2 Qa4 17. Qf2 Rb8 18. Bf4

15. Qf2 Rc8 16. Nce2

• White overprotects her centralized Knight.
• 16. Nf3 Nc4 17. Nd2 Nce5 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Bg3 b4 20. Nb1 leaves White defending her vital points and better mobility.

16. -- Bg7 17. Ng3 Rh7

• The Rook move is to protect the Bishop which is protecting the pawn. Nothing is protecting the pawn at d6.
• After 17. -- Bf8 (protecting the pawn at d6) 18. Nh5 Nc4 19. Kb1 Rh7 20. Bg3 Be7 21. Rfe1 leaves White with a spatial plus.

18. Nh5 Bh8 19. Kb1 Nc5?

• Black needed to keep the Knight overprotected
• Correct is 19. -- Qc7 20. Bc1 Nc4 21. Bxh6 Nc5 22. Nf6+ Bxf6 23. Qxf6 giving White difficulties in converting her spatial edge into anything more concrete.

20. Bg3?

• White could have sent Black home earlier than she does by 20. Nf5! Nc4 21. Nxd6+ Nxd6 22. e5 Qa5 23. exd6 Bg7 24. Bxb7 winning a piece.

20. -- Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 22. Bh4

• Again, White misses an opportunity to get a strong advatantage; 22. Rfe1 Bd5 23. a3 b4 24. axb4 Rc4 25. Bh4 Qb6 26. Nf6+ wins the exchange.

22. -- Qc7 23. Bf6 Bg6 24. Bxh8 Rxh8 25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. h4

• White seeks to reassert her spatial edge on the kingside.
• Perhaps slightly better is 26. Rfe1 d5 27. h4 Ke7 28. Re2 Rhd8 29. h5 Be4 30. Rf1 with small edge owing to her lead in kingside space.

26. -- Qc5 27. h5 Bh7 28. Qh4

• The game has leveled out, since there is not enough material left for White's spatial edge to amke any difference.
• If 28. Rfe1 then:
• 28. -- a5 29. Re2 a4 30. Qh4 Nf3 31. Qf2 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 d5 gives Black better command of open lines.
• 28. -- Ke7 29. Qh4 Bxc2+ 30. Ka1 Kf8 31. Rxe5 Qc4 32. Nd7+ invites a draw by repetition.

28. -- Bxc2+ 29. Nxc2 Qxc2+ 30. Ka1 Rc4?

• For the second time, Black loses the game. This move leaves vital points in Black's camp without protection.
• If 30. -- Ke7 31. Nd5+ Kf8 32. Qf6 Rh7 33. Qe7+ then:
• after 33 -- Kg7 34. Qf6+ there is nothing better than a draw by repetition check at f6 and e7
• after 33. -- Kg8? 34. Nf6+ Kh8 35. Nxh7 Kxh7 36. g5 White has a strong attack.

31. Ne4+ Kc7 32. Nxd6 Rf4

• Black appears to be out of trouble, but appearances are deceiving.
• 32. -- Rc5 33. Qe7+ Kb6 34. Qb7+ Ka5 35. Qa7 b4 36. Nb7+ leave White with a winning attack.

Black: Veselin Topalov
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White: Judit Polgar
Position after 32. -- Rc4f4

33. Qe7+!

• White delivers the knock out punch. Everything that follows is forced.
• If 33. Rfe1 Kb6 then:
• 34. Qg3 Nc4 35. Nxc4+ Rxc4 36. Rd6+ Kb7 37. Qf3+ Rc6 38. Qxf7+ ;eaves White in a strong position, but she still has some work to do before winning.
• 34. Rc1 Nf3 35. Rxc2 Nxh4 36. Rec1 Rxg4 37. Rc6+ Ka7 38. Nxf7 Rh7 39. Rc7+ Kb8 40. Rc8+ Ka7 wiil draw by repetition.

33. -- Kb6

• 33. -- Nd7 34. Ne8+ Kb8 35. Qd6+ Ka8 36. Qxa6+ Kb8 37. Qd6+ wins a piece.
• 33. -- Kc6 allows White to force mate: 34. Qb7+ Kc5 35. Qa7+ Kc6 36. Qxa6+ Kd7 37. Qb7+ Qc7 38. Nf5+ Ke8 39. Qa8+ Qd8 40. Rxd8#

34. Qb7+ Ka5 35. Qa7 b4 36. Rfe1

• If 36. Nb7+ (the purpose of White's 35th move was to vacate b7 for the Knight) 36. -- Kb5 37. Rfe1 f6 38. Rc1 then:
• 38. -- Rf2 39. Rxc2 Rxc2 40. a4+ +-
• 38. -- Qf2 39. Rc5+ Qxc5 40. Qxc5+ Ka4 41. Qa5#

36. -- Nf3 37. Rc1

• Also winning is 37. Nb7+ Kb5 38. Rd6 Ra8 39. Qb6+ Ka4 40. Qa5#

37. -- Nxe1 38. Rxc2 Nxc2+ 39. Kb1 1-0

• If 39. -- Rb8 then White forces mate: 40. Qc7+ Rb6 41. Nb7+ Ka4 42. Qxc2+ b3 43. axb3+ Rxb3 44. Qc6+ Rb5 45. Ka2 Rd4 46. Qc2+ Rb3 47. Qxb3#
• Topalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Granda - Domínguez, Magistral International, Barcelona

Lanier Domínguez
Photo: Website of Lanier Domínguez (Cuba)

Julio Granda vs. Lanier Domínguez
International Tournament, Round 6
Barcelona, October 2006

Symmetrical English Game: Beefeaters' Opening

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. 0-0 d6 7. a3

• 7. d3 Nge7 8. Rb1 0-0 9. a3 a5 10. Bg5 11. Bd2 is satisfactory for both sides (Petrosian-Radulov, Amsterdam 1973).

7. -- a5 8. Ne1

• 8. b3 f5 9. Bb2 Nf6 10. e3 0-0 11. d3 is even.

8. -- Be6 9. d3 Nge7 10. Nc2

• Black has a slight edge in space, but it is difficult for him to exploit it. White will seek to activate his pieces and slow Black's advance.
• If 10. f4 f5 then:
• 11. Qb3 b6 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Nb5 Qb8 14. e4 gives White a slight edge in space on the queenside.
• 11. fxe5 dxe5 12. Be3 Nd4 13. Bd2 0-0 14. e3 gives White an advantage with piece activity, but Black has compensation in kingside space although any further advance has been stopped at least for the moment.

10. -- d5 11. Bg5

• Even one move later, the plans from the last note are being pursued.
• 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Qxd5 14. Ne3 Qe6 15. Bd2 gives White a solid position with King safety.

11. -- f6

• Black moves to reenforce his center and attack White's active Bishop
• 11. -- dxc4 12. Ne4 cxd3 13. Qxd3 Bd5 14. Qb5 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 gives White greater piece activity.

12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bd2 0-0 14. Ne3 Nde7

• White is having some success at stopping Black's advance.
• Black might have done better with 14. -- Nxe3 15. Bxe3 Nd4 16. f4 Qb6 17. Rb1 Rad8 18. fxe5 fxe5 yielding a balanced position.
• On the other hand, after 14. -- Nce7? 15. Qa4 Nxe3 16. Bxe3 Rc8 17. Bxb7 Rb8 18. Ba6 White is winning.

15. Nc4 Rb8 16. Nb5 f5

• Black's kingside space is balanced by White's queenside space and White has slightly better piece activity.
• If 16. -- b6 17. Rc1 f5 18. b3 then:
• 18. -- Nd5
• 19. Qc2 Nd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. e3 Re8 is level.
• 19. e4 fxe4 20. dxe4 Nc7 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 give Black a small edge in piece activity.
• 18. -- Nd4? 19. Nxd4 cxd4 20. f4 exf4 21. Bxf4 b5 yields White a slight lead in piece activity.

17. Rc1 b6 18. b4?!

• White's queenside manuvuers were fine until this aggressive thrust. It is not justified by the position.
• White should have contented himself with restaining Black's counterplay on the queenside rather than challenging his local superiority.
White's best approach is
• 18. b3 Nd5 19. Nc3
• Nd4 20. e3 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Nxb3 22. Rb1 Bxc4 23. dxc4 a4 with an even game.
• If 19. -- Nde7 then 20. Nb5 Bd5 21. Qc2 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Nd4 23. Nxd4 cxd4 yields an equal position in which both sides are solid.
• If 18. Qc2 Nd5 then:
• 19. e4 fxe4 20. dxe4 Nc7 21. Nxc7 Qxc7 22. f4 Rbd8 =+
• 19. f4 Nd4 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. b3 Qd7 22. e4 dxe3 =+

18. -- axb4 19. axb4 Qd7

• The position is balanced. Black will seek activity for his pieces.
• After 19. -- Nxb4 20. Bxb4 cxb4 21. Qb3 Nd5 22. Bxd5 Bxd5 23. Qxb4 f4 Black's pieces spring to life.

20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Nc3

• The move is played with the idea of recapuring with the Knight if there is an exchange of Rooks on b1.
• if 21. Nbd6 then:
• 21. -- Nd5 22. e4 Ndb4 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Be3 Bxc4 25. Nxc4 =+
• 21. -- Bd5?! 22. f4 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Rfd8 24. Rb1 gives White the opportunity to trade Black's active pieces and reassert a small edge.

21. -- Nd4

• 21. -- Bxc4 dxc4 Nd4 23. Bg5 f4 24. Rb1 h6 25. Bxe7 Qxe7 is level.

22. Rb1

• White invites the exchange of Rooks mentioned in the note to his 21st move.
• 22. Bg5 h6 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. e3 Bxc4 25. dxc4 Ne6 26. Nd5 Qf7 is a path to equality.

22. -- Rxb1 23. Nxb1 e4

• Black opens up the diagonal for his Bishop. He retains an edge in piece activity.
• 23. -- Bxc4 24. dxc4 Rb8 25. Bg5 h6 26. Bxe7 Qxe7 27. Nc3 Rb2 is balanced.

24. Be3 Bxc4 25. dxc4 Qe6

• Black reenforces his headpawn and attacks White's c-pawn.
• 25. -- Rb8 26. f3 Rb3 27. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 28. Kh1 Qxd1 29. Rxd1 e3 gives Black a clear edge in mobility.

26. Nd2 Nec6 27. Re1 Nb4?

• After nursing a small edge, Black hands White a winning opportunity.
• Correct is27. -- Ra8 28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. Qc2 Rc8 30. c5 Nb4 31. Qb3 Qxb3 when Black's chances are better, but the game will probably end in a draw.

28. Qa4?

• White misses the opportunity and hands Black one.
• 28. Bxd4 e3 29. Bxe3 Rc8 30. Qa4 Qe7 31. Rd1 Rd8 32. Qa5 and White has an extra pawn.

Black: Lanier Domínguez
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White: Julio Granda
Position after 28. -- Qd1a4

28. -- Ndc2!

• This time Black seizes the moment. Black wins the exchange at e1.
• The passive defense 28. -- Rc8?! yields a passive result: If 29. Bxd4 Bxd4 30. e3 Nd3 then:
• 31. Rd1! Nb2 32. Qb3 Bg7 33. Rb1 Qe5 yields only a slight edge for Black.
• 31. Re2?! Bc3 32. Nb3 Rb8 33. Rc2 Bb4 gives Black greater mobility.

29. Bxc5 Nxe1 30. Qxb4

• 30. Bxb4 Rb8 31. Bh1 Nc2 32. Bc5 Nd4 33. e3 Qc6 34. Qa7 Ra8 and Black is poised launch a kingside attack after 35. Qb6 Qxb6 36. Bxb6 Ne2+.

30. -- Rc8 31. Bh3 Nc2 32. Qb6 Qxb6

• If 32. -- Qc6 33. Qxc6 Rxc6 then:
• 34. Be7 Bh6 35. f4 Kf7 36. Bh4 Bf8 37. Kg2 Bb4 leaves Black an exchange up.
• 34. Ba7 Bc3 35. Nb3 Rxc4 36. Bc5 Na1 37. Nxa1 Rxc5 also leaves Black an exchange up.

33. Bxb6 Bd4 34. Bxd4 Nxd4 35. Nxe4

• After 35. e3 Nf3+ 36. Nxf3 exf3 37. Bf1 Rd8 38. h3 Rd1 White is toast.

35. -- Rxc4 36. e3

• If 36. Nf6+ then:
• 36. -- Kg7 37. Ne8+ Kf8 38. Nf6 Nxe2+ 39. Kf1 Kg7 40. Ne8+ Kh6 magnifies the exchange advatate won on Black's 29th move.
• 36. -- Kf7?! loses a pawn: 37. Nxh7 Nxe2+ 38. Kf1 Rc2 39. Bg2 Ke7 40. h4 Nc1 still leaves Black with a strong advantage, but now he will have to work harder to win.

36. -- Nf3+ 37. Kg2 Ne1+ 38. Kf1 Rc1 39. Nf6+

• 39. Nd6 Nf3+ 40. Kg2 Ne5 41. e4 Rd1 42. f4 Rd2+ 43. Kf1 Nf3 leaves White in a vise.

39. -- Kf7 40. Nd5 Nf3+ 41. Ke2

• 41. Kg2 Ne5 42. Nf4 g5 43. Bxf5 gxf4 44. exf4 Ng6 is hopeless for White.

41. -- Nxh2 43. 0-1

• Black is a whole exchange up and prepared to advance his pawns for the final assault. El señor Granda resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Tate - Pozzo, International Open, Calvia

Emory Tate
Photo: New York Masters

Emory Tate vs. Sebastian Pozzo
International open, Festival de Ajedrez, Round 1
Calvia, Mallorca (Spain), October 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. a4

• More common in the Sveshnikov is 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5
• 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. c3; or
• 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3
• True to his coffeehouse style, Mr. Tate rejects the usual line and throws his opponent on his own resources.
• The term coffeehouse may be a pejoritive in some chess circles, but not all.

7. -- a6 8. Na3 Be7 9. Nc4

• White has the Bishops in an open position.
• 9. Bc4 0-0 10. Be3 Qa5 11. 0-0 Qb4 12. Qd3 Bd7 13. b3 leaves White's piece more active and his position solid.

9. -- Be6 10. Be3 d5?!

• This pawn break is premature.
• Better is 10. -- 0-0 11. Nb6 Rb8 when:
• 12. f3 Nb4 13. Be2 d5 14. exd5 Nfxd5 is equal (Petrenko-Shteinberg, Geller Mem, Odessa, July 2001).
• else if 12. Be2 then 12. -- Nxe4 13. Nxe4 f5 14. Bc4 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 fxe4 gives each side equal chances.
• else if 12. Nbd5 Rc8 13. Bf6 Qd7 14. Be2 Bd8 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. 0-0 then both sides have equal chances.
• White would have better piece activity after 10. -- Nb4 11. Nb6 Rb8 12. Be2 d5 13. exd5 Bxd5 14. 0-0

11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Bxd5 14. Nb6

• As it stands after the smoke clears, White has a samll advantage with greater piece activity.

14. -- Rd8 15. Nxd5 Rxd5 16. Bc4

• White attacks the Rook and eyes the f-pawn.
• 16. Rd1 Rxd1+ 17. Kxd1 f5 18. Bc4 Kd7 19. Ke2 give White an edge in piece activity, but it is tempored by Black's pawn duo.

16. -- Rd7 17. Rd1 Rxd1+

The immediate Rook exchange is better than
• 17. -- Bb4+ 18. c3 Bd6 19. Ke2 Ke7 when:
• after 20. Rd2 Na5 21. Bd3 Nb3 23. Rdd1 when White's piece activity is still an edge.
• but after 20. Rhe1 h6 21. b4 f5 22. Bd5 Rc8 the position is level.

18. Kxd1 Bd6 19. Kc1 Ke7 20. Rd1 f6

• White may have a slightly better postion, but Black has the best pawn on the board. He moves to protect it.
Some may argue that 20. -- f5 is weaker in that it weakens the e5 square, but a move that establishes a pawn duo deserves some consideration.
• If 20. -- f5 21. Bd5 Rc8 22. c3 then:
• 22. -- Na5 23. Kc2 b5 24. axb5 axb5 25. b3 allows White to maintain his edge in piece activity, but the pawn duo form an obstacle to White's Bishops.
• 22. -- b5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Kd2 b4 25. Ra1 also gives White the better activity, but it would be so much better were it not for those pawns.

21. h4 Rc8 22. Bd3 Nb4?

• The pawn sacrifice is wholly unsound. Black never gets anything approaching compensation.
• Correct is 22. -- g6 23. g4 Na5 24. c3 when:
• 24. -- Nb3+ 25. Kc2 Nc5 26. Bxc5 Bxc5 27. Rd2 reduces White's advantage; his Rook is no longer active and his Bishop has few good squares to which to move.
• 24. -- Nc4 25. Bh6 b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Kc2 also reduces White's piece activity.

23. Bxh7 Rc4

Black: Sebastian Pozzo
!""""""""#
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$+ + O + %
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$ Pp+ Pp+%
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/(((((((()
White: Emory Tate
Position after

24. g3!

• This may be the move Black overlooked when he played 22. -- Nb4. White keeps the Rook out of the kingside on the fourth rank.
• 24. h5 Rh4 25. Bg6 Na2+ 26. Kb1 Nb4 27. f3 Rh2 28. g4 +-

24. -- e4

• 24. -- Bc5 25. Bxc5+ Rxc5 26. Bf5 b6 27. Rd7+ Kf8 28. c3puts Black queenside pawns in danger after the Knight moves.

25. Rd2 Nd3+ 26. Kb1 Ne5

• 26. -- Nc5 27. b3 Rb4 28. Ka2 Rb6 29. g4 Rc6 30. c4 leaves the e-pawn vulnerable.

27. b3 Rb4 28. Ka2 Nf3

• 28. -- Ng4 29. c3 Nxe3 30. cxb4 Ng4 31. Bxe4 Bxb4 32. Re2 gives White a signnificant material edge.

29. Rd1 Be5

• After 29. -- b5 30. a5 Ne5 31. c3 White wins the Rook.

30. Bc5+ 1-0

• Black loses a Rook in any case. Il signore Pozzo resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Ivanchuk - Ruck, European Club Cup, Fügen

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: Messaggero Scacchi (Italy)

Vassily Ivanchuk (TPS Saransk) vs. Robert Ruck (KSK 47 Eynatten)
European Club Cup, Round 7/Board 1
Fügen, Austria, October 2006

German Advance Game: Van der Weil Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 c5 7. h4 h5 8. Nf4 Bh7 9. g5!?

• More common and satisfactory for both sides is 9. Nxh5 cxd4 10. Nb5 Nc6 11. Nxd4 Nxe5

9. -- Nc6

• 9. -- cxd4 10. Nb5 11. f3 Bf5 12. Nxd4 Ne7 13. Bb5+ Nd7 with a level game (Kotronias-Arkandi, ChOl, Yerevan 1996).

10. Qxh5 Nxd4 11. Be3

• If 11. g6 fxg6 12. Nxg6 Bxg6 13. Qxg6+ Kd7 then:
• 14. Qd3 Rxh4 15. Rxh4 Qxh4 gives Black the edge with his active Queen and sentral space.
• 14. Ne2 Nf3+ 15. Kd1 Nxe5 when Black has the advantage with the better center.

11. -- Ne7?!

Black misses an opportunity to minimze White's by taking advantage his well-paced Knight and advanced pawns.
• correct is 11. -- Nxc2+ 12. Kd2 d4 13. Bb5+ Ke7 14. g6 when:
• 14. -- fxg6 15. Qg5+ Kf7
• 16. Kxc2 Be7 17. Qg2 g5+ 18. Nd3 and white has an edge in piece activity.
• 16. Nxe6 Kxe6 17. Qg4+ is equal.
• 14. -- Nxa1? 15. Nfd5+
• 15. -- Qxd5 16. Bg5+ gives White an winning advantage.
• 15. -- exd5 16. Bg5+ Ke6 17. Qg4+ f5 18. exf6+ Ke5 19. Re1+ Kd6 20. Bf4#

12. Bxd4 cxd4 13. Nxe6 Qb8 14. Bb5+ Nc6 15. Nxd4

• White has a clear advantage in space and piece activity.
• 15. Nxd5? would lose much of the advantage after 15. -- Qxe5+ 16. Qe2 Qxe2+ 17. Kxe2 Rc8 18. Nxd4 Be4 when Black takes over the initiative.

15. -- Qxe5+ 16. Nce2 0-0-0?

• Black may have an adversion to castling short into what looks like a strong attack, but he would be better off doing that.
• If 16. -- Rc8 17. Rd1 then:
• 17. -- Bc5!
  • 18. Rh3 18. -- 0-0 19. Re3 Qh2 20. c3 Qh1 is equal.
  • 18. c3 0-0
  • 19. Nf3 Qc7 20. Rxd5 with equality.
  • 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Qg4 with a level game.
• 17. -- Be7 18. Rh3 0-0 19. Re3 Be4 20. Bxc6 yields White an extra pawn.

17. Bxc6!

• This is the best move to assure White the advantage.
• If 17. Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• 18. Ba6+ Kb8
• 19. 0-0-0 Qc7 20. Qf3 Be4 21. Qb3+ and White's pieces are only slightly more active.
• 19. Qxf7? Qxb2 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Bd3 Bb4+ and Black's attack is promising.
• 18. Bxc6? Qe6! 19. Rg1 Qxc6 20. Qxf7 Bxc2 21. Kf1 Bd3 and Black is winning.

17. -- bxc6 18. Nxc6

• When Ivanchuk gets the upper hand, as he has here, he often likes to slowly strangle his opponent.
• If 18. Qxf7 Rd7 19. Qf4 Qxf4 20. Nxf4 Bd6 then:
• 21. Nd3 Rb7 22. 0-0-0 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 gives White two extra pawns, but Black has more active pieces.
• 21. Nfe6? c5 22. Ne2 Re7 23. Nxg7 Rxg7 gives Black much greater piece activity and theoretical material equality (he has a piece for three pawns).

18. -- Qe4

• 18. -- Qxb2 19. 0-0 Rd7 20. Rfb1 Qxc2 21. Rc1 gives White superior piece activity.

19. f3?

• White throws it away, at least for the moment.
• Correct is 19. Nxa7+ Kb7 20. Qxf7+ Kb6 21. f3 Qe3 22. Nb5 Kxb5 23. Qb7+ and White continues to win, now with Black's King is out in the open.

19. -- Qe3 20. Nxd8

• The exchange does not yield White an advatage.
• Both sides have equal chances after 20. Qg4+ Rd7 21. Nb8 Kxb8 22. Qxd7 Bb4+ 23. c3 Bd3 24. Rh2

20. -- Bb4+ 21. c3 Re8 22. Rh2

• White protects the Knight.
• If 22. Qg4+ Kxd8 23. Rh2 Bxc3+ then:
• 24. bxc3 24. -- Qxc3+ 25. Kf2 Qxa1 26. Qf4 is level.
• 24. Kf1 Bxb2 25. Re1 Bc3 is balanced.

22. -- Qg1+ 23. Kd2 Qxh2?

• This error is most likely a misjudgment of the position. Black plays for a win that is not there.
• Better is:23. -- Rxe2+ 24. Rxe2 Qd4+ 25. Ke1 when Black forces perpetual check on g1 and d4.

24. Re1 Bd6

• Black shortens his agony.
• Better is either:
• 24. -- Bxc3+ 25. bxc3 Bg6 26. Qg4+ Kxd8 27. Qd4 Re7 28. Qxg7 still leaves White a pawn up; or
• 24. -- Kxd8 25. Qxh7 Bc5 26. Qd3 Re7 27. f4 Bf2 28. Rd1 and White still maintains a material and positional edge.

25. Qxh7 Bg3

• Attempting to win the exchanges fails, but so does everthing else.
• 25. -- Kxd8 26. Qd3 Re7 27. Kd1 Bc5 28. Qb5 Bf2 29. Rf1 assures White of remaining a pawn up with an overwhelming position.

26. Qf5+ Kxd8 27. Qxd5+ Kc7 28. Qxf7+ Kd8 29. Qd5+ Kc7 30. Qc4+ Kb6

• The Black King has advanced, making him more vulnerable.
• If 30. -- Kd8 31. Rd1 Ke7 32. g6 Rd8+ 33. Kc2 then:
• 33. -- Rxd1 34. Kxd1 Qh1+ 35. Kc2 Bxh4 36. Qc7+ wins another pawn for White.
• 33. -- Rd6 34. Qf7+ Kd8 35. Qf8+ is hopelessly lost for Black.

31. Qd4+ Kc7 32. Qxa7+ Kc8 33. Qc5+ Kd8

Black: Robert Ruck
!""""""""#
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White: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 33. -- Kc8d8

34. Rd1!!

• The text wins faster than 34. Qd5+ Ke7 35. Kd1 Bxe1 36. Kxe1 Qxh4+ 37. Kf1

34. -- Rxe2+

• If 34. -- Qxe2+ 35. Kc1+ then:
• 35. -- Qxd1+ 36. Kxd1 Re1+ 37. Kc2 Re2+ 38. Kb3 Re7 39. h5 and White is up with a Queen and five pawns against a Rook and a Bishop; Black would have resigned several moves back.
• Other moves lead to a quick mate. For example: 35. -- Bd6 36. Rxd6+ Ke7 37. Rf6+ Kd7 38. Qa7+ Kc8 39. Rc6+ Kd8 40. Qc7#

35. Kc1+ Ke8

• Black loses his by after 35. -- Bd6 36. Rxd6+ Qxd6 37. Qxd6+
• White forces Black to walk the plank.

36. Qc8+ Kf7 37. Qf5+ Ke8 38. Qg6+ Ke7 39. Qxg7+ Ke8 40. Qg6+ Ke7 41. Qf6+ 1-0

• White mates on the next move. Herr Ruck resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Chiburdanidze - Dzagnidze, European Club Cup, Fügen

Maia Chibudanidze
Photo: ChessBase.com

Maia Chiburdanidze (Mika Yerevan) vs. Nana Dzagnidze (Energy-Investi Sakartvelo)
European Club Cup, Round 4/Board 1
Fügen, Austria October 2006

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. 0-0 dxc4

• Another line of development is 6. -- c5 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Qa4 a6 9. b3 Be7 10. Bb2 0-0

7. Bxc4 a6!?

• This move does nothing directly for Black's development, but may be useful in assisting in the development of her queenside by keeping White out of a6 after 8. Qe2.
• 7. -- c5 8. Nc3 Nbd7 9. d5 exd5 10. Nxd5 Bd6 11. Qb3 0-0 is balanced.
• 7. -- Bd6 8. Nc3 0-0 9. Qe2 a6 10. e4 b5 11. Bd3 give White a small edge in central space.

8. Qe2 b5 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. a4 b4 11. e4

• White has a spatial advantage in the center.
• 11. b3 c5 12. Bb2 Be7 13. Nbd2 0-0 14. Rac1 Bd6 15. Rfd1 also give White a small edge, but one based on piece activity after the opening of the center.

11. -- Be7 12. Nbd2 c5 13. e5 Nd5 14. Nc4 h6

• Black want to keep White out of g5, where her pieces are focused.
• White's central space still gives her a small plus after 14. -- N5b6 15. Na5 Bd5 16. Be3 Nc8 17. Nc4 0-0 18. Rfc1.

15. Rd1 Rc8 16. a5 g5!?

• Blakc's move gabs space on the kingside but puts out of the question any idea of castling.
• 16. -- Qc7 17. Bd2 0-0 18. Qe4 N5f6 19. Qh4 Nd5 20. Qg3 gives White a strong edge in central space.

17. h3!?

• White discourages Black from advancing the g-pawn any further without preparations.
• Objectively better is 17. Nd6+ Bxd6 18. exd6 Rc6 19. Ne5 Rxd6 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. dxc5 giving White an advatage in space on the queenside and better piece activity.

17. -- Rg8 18. Nh2 cxd4 19. Ng4?!

• This is an inferior move that allows Black an opportunity to attack White's Queen with tempo and gain a strong position.
• Better is 19. Qg4 Qc7 20. Qxd4 Nc5 21. Bc2 Nd7 22. Bh7 Rf8 23. b3 when each side has equal chances.

19. -- h5?

• This move weakens Black's kingside pawns and should lose the game.
• If 19. -- Nf4! 20. Bxf4 gxf4 21. f3 h5 then either of these lines gives Black a claer edge in space:
• 22. Nh2 Nc5 23. Nb6 Rc7 24. Bc4 Bf8
• 22. Nf2 Nc5 23. Nb6 Rc7 24. Ne4 Nb3 25. Rab1 Nxa5

20. Nh6 Rg7 21. Qxh5 Rxc4

• If 21. -- Kf8 22. Bf1 Bc5 23. Ng4 then:
• 23. -- Qe7 24. Qh8+ Rg8 25. Qh6+ and White has a strong attack on the kingside.
• After 23. -- f5 24. exf6 N7xf6 25. Qh8+ Ng8 26. Nce5 White's centralized Knights, mobile Bishops and active Queen all but guarantee victory.

22. Bxc4 Nxe5 23. Bf1 Ng6 24. Rxd4 Bf6

• The attack on White's Rook would fail with correct play.
• No better is the alternative 24. -- Ne5 25. Ng4 Nc6 26. Rd1 Nxa5 27. Qh8+ when White has a vicious attack.

25. Rxd5?

• White throws away the win.
• Correct is 25. Rd1 Ne5 26. Ng4 Nxg4 27. Qxg4 Rh7 28. Qg3 Qc7 29. Qxc7 maintaining a winning edge.

25. -- Qxd5 26. Ng4 Bd4?

• This loses the g-pawn without compensation.
• Correct is 26. -- Be7 27. Ne3 Qe5 28. Nc4 Qe1 29. b3 Bc5 30. Qe2 +=

27. Qxg5 Qxg5 28. Bxg5 f5

• This attempt to drive away the Knight should fail.
• Better is 28. -- Ne5 29. Nxe5 Rxg5 30. Nd3 b3 31. Ra4 Bg7 32. Rb4 when White still gets a strong initiatives

29. Bf6!?

• White hopes for a quick win catching Black off balance.
• The noose tightens around Black if she replies 29. -- Bxf6 20, Nxf6+ Kf8 31. Rd1 Ke7 32. Nh5 Rh7 33, Rc1.
• After White plays 29. Rd1 fxg4 30. Rxd4 gxh3 31. Bf6 Rd7 32. Rxd7 Kxd7 33. gxh3 her h-pawn will decide.

29. -- fxg4 30. Bxd4 e5 31. Re1 gxh3 32. g4!

• After 32. Bxe5 re7 33. f4 hxg2 34. Be2 Rh7 35. Kf2 Nxe5 36. fxe5 Rc7 Black's g-pawn gives her a clear advantage.

32. -- Re7 33. Bc5 Nh4

Black: Nana Dzagnidze
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White: Maia Chiburdanidze
Position after 33. -- Ng6h4

34. Re3!!

• The Rook is almost a desperado. White prepares to give back the exchange in order to get a won position.
• If 34. Be2 Rh7 35. Kh2 Ng2 then:
• 36. Rd1 Nf4 37. Bf1 Rc7 38. Bb6 gives White a strong initiative.
• after 36. Rf1 Nf4 37. Re1 Ng2 38. Rd1 White's pieces are more active and her g-pawn is a remote threat.

34. -- Nf3+ 35. Rxf3!

• This is the aforementioned exchange sacrifice.
• 35. Kh1?? would be catastrophic: 35. -- Nd2+ 36. Kg1 h2+ 37. Kxh2 Nxf1+ and Black wins.

35. -- Bxf3 36. Bxe7 Kxe7 37. g5 Kd6 38. g6 Kc5

• White's winning strategy is based on pushing the captuing at least one of Black's kingside pawns, advancing her own a- and g-pawns and sacrificing one in order to promote the other.
• 38. -- Bd5 39. Bxa6 Ke7 40. Bc8 Bc4 41. a6 will be followed by the advance of the a- and g-pawns and the promotion of one of them.

39. Bxa6 Bd5 40. Kh2 b3

• If 40. -- Kd6 41. g7 Bg8 42. Kxh3 then:
• 42. -- Kc5 43. Kg4 Be6+ 44. Kg5 Bg8 45. Bb7 and the a-pawn advances and the White maneuvers her King to f8.
• 42. -- Kc6 43. Kg4 Be6+ 44. Kg5 e4 45. Kf4 and White will split Black's defenses by moving the Bishop and advancing the a-panwn.

41. g7 Be6

• If 41. -- Bf7 42. Kxh3 Be6+ then:
• 43. Kg3 Bg8 44. Bb7 Kb5 45. a6 Kb6 46. Kg4 e4 47. Kf4 +-
• 43. Kh4 Bg8 44. Bb7 e4 45. Kg5 Kb5 46. Bxe4 +-

42. Bc8! 1-0

• If 42. Bc8 Bg8 43. Kxh3 Kb5 44. a6 Kb6 45. Kg4 then:
• 45. -- e4 46. Kf5 Bh7+ 47. Kf6and now:
after
• 47. -- Bg8 48. Be6 Bh7 49. Kg5 Kxa6 50. Kh6 and Black stops the pawn only by giving up her Bishop.
• after 47. -- Ka7 48. Kf7 e3 49. fxe3 Kb8 50. Be6 Ka7 51. e4 Kxa6 52. Bf5 the g-pawn must promote.
• after 45. -- Ka7 46. Kf5 Bh7+ 47. Kxe5 Kb8 48. Be6 Ka7 49. f4 Kxa6 50. f5 the f-pawn keeps going.
• Ms. Dzagnidze resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Khurtsidze - Kovanova, European Club Cup, Fügen

Nino Khurtsidze
Photo: Website of the 2004 European Womenn's Championship

Nino Khurtsidze (Mika Yerevan) vs. Baira Kovanova (Economist SGSEU Saratov)
European Club Cup, Round 5/Board 3
Fügen, Austria, October 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nge2 d5 7. cxd5 cxd4 8. exd4 Nxd5 9. 0-0 Nc6 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Be3

• White opts to hold the pawns in the center.
• Also playable is 11. Nf4 Bd6 12. Re1 Qh4 13. g3 Qg4 14. f3 Qd7 15. Bc2

11. -- Be7 12. Nf4 Bf6 13. Rc1 g6 14. Re1 Qd6?!

• This move does little to facilitate Black's development.
Better is
• 114. -- Re8 15. Qa4 a6 16. Rc5 Be6 17. Rec1 Qd7 with equalty.

15. Rc5

• White responds aggressively by attacking the weak d-pawn.
• 15. Qf3 Be6 16. Nh5 Bh4 17. Nf6+ Kg7 18. Nh5+ Kh8 19. a3 Qe7 is even.

15. -- Be6 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qg4 Bg7

• The position is balanced. Black's last move does nothing to disturb the equalibrium.
• 17. -- e5 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Qxg6+ Kh8 20. Bg5 Ne7 21. Qh6+ could be followed by an exchange of pieces at f6, leaving White at least a pawn up.

18. Rec1 Rad8 19. h4

• White has a pawn majority on the kingside and tries to grab some space there.
• 19. b3 Rf7 20. Qh4 Bf6 21. Qg4 e5 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Qd1 offers equal chances.

19. -- Nxd4 20. h5

• Of course White doesn't try 19. Bxd4? Rf4!.

19. -- Nc6?!

• This is an obious attempt to keep the c-file closed, but the danger is on the other wing.
• Better is 20. -- Nf5 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. Qxg6 Rf6 23. Qh5 Nxe3 24. Qh7+ although it gives White a small edge in piece activity.

21. hxg6!

• This assures White a strong initiative. The pawn cannot be retaken immediately.
• 21. -- hxg6? is out of the question because of 22. Qxg6 Rf6 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. Bg5 and White is a pawn up with a winning position.

21. -- Ne5 22. gxh7+ Kh8 23. Qd1 Nxd3 24. Qxd3 d4?

• Black misses an opportunity to disspate White's advantage by taking back the pawn.
• Correct is 24. -- Bxb2! 25. R1c2 Be5 26. Qg6 Qe7 27. Bg5 Qe8 28. Qd3 and White has only a small edge in peice activity.

Black: Baira Kovanova
!""""""""#
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White: Nino Khurtsidze
Position after 24. d5d4

25. Bd2!

• This quiet move underscores White's advantage. She will maintain her extra pawn.
• 25. Bg5 Rd7 26. Qg6 Rdf7 27. Rc8 Rxf2 28. Bh6 Qe5 29. Bxg7+ also gives White a strong position.

25. -- e5 26. Rc7 Qf6

• Black hopes for some counterplay in the f-file.
• If 26. -- Rd7 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Qe4 then:
• 28. -- Qf7 29. f3 b5 30. Bb4 and White maintains the extra pawn and a strong position.
• 28. -- a6 29. f3 then:
• 29. -- Qf5 30. Qxb7 White's extra pawn is still an advatage; White's plan will be to centralize her pieces, incapacitate or capture Black's central pawns and exchange pieces.
• 29. -- b5 30. Rc6 gives White pieces that are more active.

27. f3 Rf7

• White has put an end to Black's f-file play. Black will instead try to neutralize the seventh rank.
• If 27. -- Rb8 28. Bb4 Qf5 then:
• 29. Qa3 Rfe8 30. Qxa7 Qxh7 31. Qb6 Black has nothing better than 31. -- Qh6, inviting an exchange of Queens that will only magify White advantage.
• after 29. Qxf5 Rxf5 30. Bd6 Rd8 31. Ba3 White has command of the c-file, the seventh rank and the a3f8 diagonal.

28. Qc4 Rdf8 29. Qd5

• White is content to consolidat the center.
• After 29. Qd3 Rxc7 30. Rxc7 Qb6 31. Re7 Bf6 32. Rd7 Bg7 33. Qe4 White wins more material.

29. -- b6 30. Qe4 a5

• Black cannot allow to fall deeper into a material disadvantage.
• After 30. -- Qf5 31. Qxf5 Rxf5 32. Rxa7 R5f7 33. Ra6 Rf6 34. Rc7 White remains a pawn up.

31. R7c6 Qd8

• Black's hopes of salvaging anything from this position lay in her center pawns.
• After 31. -- Qf5 32. Qxf5 Rxf5 33. Rxb6 a4 34. Rc7 R5f7 35. Rbb7 Black has nothing better than to exchange on c7, magnifying White's advantage.

32. Bh6

• White follows the adage "when ahead in material, exchange pieces."
• Nevertheless, White could win faster with32. b3 Bf6 33. Bh6 Bg7 34. Bxg7+ Rxg7 35. Qxe5 Qg5 36. Qxg5

32. -- Bxh6 33. Rxh6 Qg5 34. Rcc6 Rg7

• Again, Black seek counterplay on a file.
• If 34. -- Qe3+ 35. Qxe3 dxe3 36. Rce6 then:
• 36. -- Rd8 37. Rxe5 Rxh7 38. Rxh7+ Kxh7 39. Rxe3 +-
• 36. -- Rxh7 37. Rxh7+ Kxh7 38. Rxe5 Rd8 39. Rxe3 +-

35. Rhg6 Rxg6 36. Rxg6 Qc1+ 37. Kh2 Qc7

• Black is still trying to find counterplay on the kingside. The move threatens to take the h-pawn with check.
• Black might have survived longer after 37. -- Qf4+ 38. Qxf4 when:
• 38. -- Rxf4 39. Kg3 Rf7 40. Rxb6 Re7 41. Rb5 White's extra pawns should still prove decisive.
• 38. -- exf4 39. Rd6 Kxh7 40. Rxd4 Rf6 41. g4 the extra pawn, now passed, will decide.

38. Rg3

• White simply makes a counterthreat: if Black plays 28. -- Qxh7+ then White replies 39. Rh3 winning immediately.
• 38. g3 Rc8 39. Kh3 Qd7+ 40. Kg2 Qc7 41. Qg4 Qc2+ 42. Kh3 theatens mate on g8.

38. -- Qd6 39. Rg6 Qc7 40. Rg5

• 40. Rg3 Qe7 41. Qg6 Qf7 42. Qxb6 Kxh7 43. Qxa5 Qf4 44. Qc7+ catches the Black king in a mating net.

40. -- Re8

• After 40. -- Qxh7+ 41. Qxh7+ Kxh7 42. Rxe5 Rd8 43. Re2 d3 44. Rd2 White manuvuers her King to e3, winning Black's last best hope.

41. Qg6 e4+ 42. Rg3 1-0

• White wins easily after 42. Rg3 Qxh7+ 43. Rh3 Qxh3+ 44. gxh3.
• Ms. Kovanova resigns.

[Lithos]

11. Addendum

Here are links for those who are liberated from Windows and use Linux.

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/2510

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Thank you

Crafty and Gnu work on Windows, too.