The Jach Rabbit Chess Report (March 21): Yifan takes Istanbul; Aronian leads in Nice

[Jack Rabbit]

Hou Yifan takes Istanbul



Ms. Hou receives her trophy in Istanbul
Photo: from the official website of the Isbank Ataturk Women Masters Tournament (Turkey)

Hou Yifan of China, 14, won her first major international tournament this week by taking first prize in the Isbank Ataturk Women Masters’ Tournament which finished yesterday (Thursday, March 20) in Istanbul.

Ms. Hou, the youngest lady in the event, scored 7 points out of nine rounds to finish a full point over the senior participant, Sweden’s Pia Cramling. Chinese master Zhao Xue came from behind to finish third ahead of Ekaterina Atalik of Turkey, who played wonderful chess in the first half of the tournament only to collapse in the last three rounds.


Aronian leads Amber Rapid/Blind



Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian leads the 17th annual Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament by a half point ahead of world champion Vishy Anand of India after six round in Nice.

Aronian has scored 4½ points in the rapid competition and 3 points in blindfold play for a combined total of 7½ points. Anand, considered to be the world’s premiere rapid player, have 4 points in rapid games and 3 in blindfold.

Aronian’s 4½ rapid points top the table in that division, while Russian GM Alexander Morozevich and seventeen-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway share the lead in the blindfold competition with 4 points each. Neither Morozevich nor Magnus have done well in the rapid play, however.

The tournament is scheduled for eleven rounds, with each round consisting of a blindfold game in the late afternoon and a rapid game in the evening.

The city on Nice on the Mediterranean coast of France is hosting the event for the first time. All previous editions of the Amber Rapid/Blind have been held in Monte Carlo.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Istanbul

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Hou - Krush, Women Masters' Tournament. Round 7

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Hou Yifan - Irina Krush
Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament, Round 7
Istanbul, 17 March 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense (Chelyabinsk Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5

• If 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 then:
• If 8...Nb8 then:
• 9.c4 a6 10.Nc3 Be7 then:
• If 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 f5 then:
• 13.f3 Bg5 14.Kh1 Nd7 15.b4 a5 16.a3 axb4 17.Bxg5 Qxg5 18.axb4 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Qe3 20.Be2 Nb8 21.Qb2 Na6 22.Rb1 Bd7 23.Nd1 Qd4 24.Qxd4 exd4 gives Black a slight edge in space (Svidler-Timofeev, Russian Ch, Moscow. 2004).
• 13.f4 Nd7 14.Kh1 Kh8 15.Qc2 g6 16.Be3 Bf6 17.Rab1 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.b4 a5 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 is equal (Fakhiridou-Arakhamia, Euro Ch, Kusadasi. 2006).
• 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 f5 13.f4 Bf6 14.Kh1 Nd7 15.Qc2 exf4 16.Bxf4 Be5 17.Rad1 Bxf4 18.Rxf4 Ne5 19.b4 a5 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 Bd7 22.c5 dxc5 23.bxc5 Qa5 24.c6 bxc6 is equal (Apicella-Saric, Mediterreanean Ch, Cannes, 2007).
• 8...Ne7 9.c4 Nf5 10.Bd3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Kh1 Nh4 13.Be3 a6 14.Nc3 f5 15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Ng6 17.Be3 Bg5 18.Bg1 Bd7 is equal (Kholmov-Sturus, Karseladze Mem, Kutaisi, 1978).

7...a6 8.Na3 b5

• If 8...Be6 9.Nc4 Rc8 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Ne3 Bh6 then:
• 12.Ncd5 Bxe3 13.Nxe3 Qb6 14.Bd3 Qb4+ 15.Qd2 Qxb2 16.0-0 Qd4 17.Rab1 Rc7 (Black has the advantage in space and an extra pawn) 18.Kh1 Ne7 19.Qa5 then:
• 19...Qc5 20.Qxc5 dxc5 21.c4 0-0 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nc8 gives White the edge in space (Shamkovich-Arnason, IT, Reykjavik, 1984).
• 19...Rc5 20.Qb6 Bxa2 21.Rb4 Qc3 22.Qxb7 Be6 23.Rb6 is equal.
• 12.Bd3 Bxe3 13.fxe3 Qb6 14.Qc1 h5 15.0-0 Rh6 16.Kh1 Ne7 17.a3 gives Black the advantage in space (Oll-Sermek, Ol. Moscow, 1994).

9.Bxf6

• If 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• 11.c3 0-0 12.Nc2 then:
• 12...Bg5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 Kh8 then:
• 17.Nce3 g6 18.Qe2 f5 19.h4 Bxe3 20.Qxe3 fxe4 21.h5 g5 22.Qxe4 Bb7 23.Qe3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Anand-Shirov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• 17.0-0 f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Nce3 Bg6 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Rxf1+ 23.Qxf1 Rxb3 24.Rc4 Rb5 25.Nc7 Rb6 26.Nd5 Rb5 27.Nc7 draw (Bologan-Timofeev, IT, Sarajevo, 2005).
• 12...Rb8 13.Be2 Bg5 14.0-0 a5 15.Qd3 Be6 16.Rfd1 Kh8 17.Bf3 Qd7 18.Nce3 g6 19.Qe2 Rfd8 20.g3 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Bg2 Rf8 gives White a modest advantage in space (Santos-Chandler, Team M, Cannes, 1992).
• If 11...Bg5 12.Nc2 Ne7 then:
• 13.h4 Bh6 14.a4 bxa4 15.Ncb4 0-0 then:
• 16.Qxa4 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 a5 then:
• 18.Bb5 then:
• 18...Be6 19.Bc6 Rb8 20.b4 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 axb4 22.cxb4 Qb6 23.Rb1 Kh8 24.0-0 f5 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Leko-Carlsen, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• 18...Kh8 19.b4 f5 20.Bc6 Ra7 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.bxa5 Bd3 23.Bb5 Bxb5 24.Qxb5 Raf7 25.0-0 Qxh4 26.Qe2 gives White a slight advantage in that White can meet the mating threat 26...Rf5/27...Rh5/28...Qh1 and still be able to advance his a-pawn.(Karjakin-Shirov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 16.Rxa4 a5 17.Bc4 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Bd7 19.Bxa8 Bxa4 20.Qxa4 axb4 21.Bd5 bxc3 22.bxc3 Qf6 23.Qa7 gives White an advatage in space, but Black threatens 24.Qf4 followed by 25.Qc1+ winning the Rook (Domínguez-Ni Hua, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).
• 13.Ncb4 0-0 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bd7 17.Qd1 a5 18.Bc4 Kh8 19.0-0 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Qe2 Qb8 22.Rfd1 Be6 23.Kh1 Ra7 24.f3 Bd7 25.Bd3 g6 26.Be4 Be6 27.g3 Bd8 28.h4 Raf7 gives White the edge in space (Korneev-Moiseenko, Euro ChT, Fügen (Austria), 2005).

9...gxf6 10.Nd5 f5

• The text move introduces the Chelyabinsk Variation. 10...Bg7 is the Novosibinsk Variation.
• If 10...Bg7 then:
• 11.c3 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Nc2 then:
• 13...0-0 14.Nce3 Be6 15.Bd3 f5 then:
• 16.Qh5 e4 17.Bc2 Ne7 then:
• 18.Rd1 then:
• 18...b4 19.0-0 bxc3 20.bxc3 Kh8 21.g3 Rc8 22.Bb3 Bf7 23.Qe2 Bxd5 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Bxd5 a5 26.c4 Rb8 draw (Ponomariov-Leko. World Teams, Yerevan, 2001).
• 18...Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Qf6 21.0-0 Kh8 22.g4 fxg4 23.Bxe4 Bh6 24.Kh1 Qe6 25.Bg2 Ra7 26.Rd4 Bf4 27.Re4 Be5 draw (Dimitar-Grigorov, Bulgarian Ch, Sofia, 2004).
• 18...Ng6 19.f4 exf3 20.gxf3 Qd7 21.0-0 Qf7 22.f4 Rac8 23.Rf3 Rc5 24.Rh3 h6 25.Rg3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space and he is now pick on Black's weakened kingside; he won shortly afterward (Ponomariov-Eljanov, Rector Cup, Kharkov, 2001).
• 18.Nf4 Bf7 19.Bb3 d5 20.Qg5 then:
• 20...Ng6 21.Qxd8 Raxd8 22.Nexd5 Nxf4 23.Nxf4 b4 24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.Bxe6+ draw (Anand-Kramnik, IT, Frankfurt, 2001).
• 20...h6 21.Qg3 b4 22.Rd1 bxc3 23.bxc3 Kh8 24.Nexd5 Nxd5 25.Bxd5 Qa5 26.0-0 Rac8 27.Qh3 Bxd5 28.Rxd5 Qxa2 29.Rxf5 Rxf5 30.Qxf5 Rxc3 31.Ng6+ Kg8 32.Ne7+ gives White the upper hand with a strong initiative ()Schmaltz-V. Smirnov, Australian Ch, Brisbane, 2005).
• 18.Bb3 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 f4 20.0-0 Rf5 21.Qd1 Ra7 22.Nxf4 Bxb3 23.Qxb3+ Raf7 gives White an extra pawn but just a little more space (Beverdam-Gouma, Weekend Trmt, Haarlem, 2001).
• 16.0-0 Ra7 17.a4 Ne7 18.Nxe7+ Rxe7 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bxb5
• 13...Be6 then:
• 14.g3 0-0 15.Bg2 a5 16.0-0 then:
• 16...Rb8 17.Qe2 f5 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.Rd2 e4 20.Nce3 b4 21.Nf4 Bg8 22.cxb4 Rxb4 23.Rad1 Qe8 gives Black an overwhelming advantage in space (Tsvetkov-Pankratov, Corr, 2002).
• 16...f5 17.Qh5 b4 18.Nce3 Rb8 19.Rad1 bxc3 20.bxc3 e4 is equal (Ciuksyte-Kwiatkowski, Op, Hastings, 2006-07).
• 14.Nce3 0-0 15.Bd3 f5 16.0-0 Ra7 17.a4 Ne7 18.Nxe7+ Rxe7 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bxb5 d5 21.Ra6 Kh8 22.Qa4 f4 23.Nc2 Rg8 24.Ra8 f3 25.g3 Qd6 26.Rd1 gives White the edge in space (deFirmian-Berg, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2007).
• 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 then:
• 13.c3 f5 14.Nc2 Qb7 15.Qf3 0-0 16.Nxc4 d5 17.exd5 e4 18.Qe3 Bb7 19.d6 Qf6 20.Bc2 f4 21.Qh3 Rac8 22.b3 Qg6 23.Rad1 Rc5 24.d7 Rh5 25.Qf3 exf3 26.Bxg6 hxg6 27.d8Q fxg2 28.Rfe1 Rxd8 29.Rxd8+ Kh7 30.Re7 gives White a clear adavantage in space (Grischuk-Jakovenko, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2003).
• 13.c4 f5 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qf3 then:
• 15...bxc4 16.Ne3 f4 17.Nd5 Be6 18.g4 b4 19.c4 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Bf6 21.g5 Bd8 22.Bf1 Kh8 23.h4 Rc8 is equal (Dolmatov-Topalov, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1993).
• 15...d5 16.cxd5 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Rb8 18.Rad1 Rb6 19.Qd3 Qd7 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Qe3 Rh6 22.Bc2 Qd6 23.g3 Bh3 24.Rfe1 f5 25.f4 exf4 26.Qe7 Qb6+ White resigns (P. Smirnov-Radjobov, FIDE Knock OPut, Tripoli, 2004).

11.Bd3 Be6 12.c4

• If 12.0-0 Bxd5 13.exd5 then:
• 13...Ne7 14.c3 Bg7 15.Qh5 e4 16.Bc2 Qc8 17.Rae1 0-0 18.Kh1 Ng6 19.Bb1 Re8 20.f3 b4 21.cxb4 Bxb2 22.Nc2 Bc3 23.Re2 Qc4 24.fxe4 Rxe4 25.Ref2 Re5 26.Qh3 f4 27.Na3 Qxb4 28.Bxg6 fxg6 29.Nc2 Qb2 30.Qd3 Ba5 31.Nd4 Qc3 32.Qxc3 Bxc3 33.Ne6 h5 34.Rxf4 Rb8 offers few chances to either side (Bologan-Filippov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).
• 14.c4 Bg7 15.Rb1 e4 16.Be2 0-0 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Bxb2 19.Nc4 Bg7 20.a4 Ng6 21.Qh5 Qf6 22.Ne3 f4 23.Nf5 Ne7 24.Bd7 Ra7 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 26.Bf5 h6 27.Rb4 gives White the advantage in space with an attack concentrated on Black's weakened kingside (Areshchenko-Shirov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 12.Qh5 then:
• 12...Rg8 13.g3 Rg5 then:
• 14.Qd1 Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.c3 Bh6 17.Be2 Qb6 18.Nc2 Kf8 19.a4 bxa4 20.Nb4 f4 21.Qxa4 gives White the advantage in space ](Leko-Acs, IT, Budapest, 2003).
• 14.c3 0-0 15.Rfd1 Rb8 16.Nc2 Qd7 17.h3 a5 18.Na3 b4 19.Nb5 bxc3 20.bxc3 Ne7 21.Ndc7 Rbc8 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.a4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Anand-Kramnik, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2003).
• 14.Qxh7 Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.0-0-0 Qb6 17.Rhf1 Rg6 18.Qh3 e4 19.Be2 Bg7 20.Bh5 Rh6 21.g4 Qc5 22.gxf5 Qb4 23.c3 Bxc3 24.bxc3 draw (Mrugala-Brueckner, cyberspace, 1998).
• 12...Bg7 13.0-0 f4 14.c4 bxc4 15.Bxc4 0-0 16.Rac1 Rb8 17.b3 Qd7 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.Qh4 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Nb4 21.Nc4 Nxa2 22.Rc2 Nb4 23.Rcd2(Grischuk-Ivanchuk, Grand Prix, Moscow, 2002).

12...fxe4

• 12...Qa5+ 13.Kf1 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nd4 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Nc2 Nxc2 17.Qxc2 e4 18.Qc6+ Ke7 19.Bxb5 Ra7 20.a4 Bg7 21.Qc1 Rb8 22.Rb1 Rxb5 23.axb5 Qxb5+ 24.Kg1 Qxd5 25.h4 Qc5 26.Qxc5 dxc5 27.Rh3 Rb7 28.Kf1 Ke6 29.Ra3 f4 30.Ra4 f5 31.b4 Bc3 32.Ra6+ draw (van der Wiel-Dolmatov, Groningen, 1979).

13.Bxe4 Rc8!?

• If 13...Qa5+ 14.Kf1 then:
• 14...Bg7? 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Rc1 Ra6 17.g4 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Ne7 19.Qb7 Qb6 20.Rc7 Qxb7 21.Rxb7 Ng6 22.Rb8+ Ke7 23.Rb7+ Ke6 24.Nxb5 Rxa2 25.Nc3 Ra1+ 26.Kg2 Nf4+ 27.Kg3 Rxh1 28.Bf5+ Black resigns as he is mated on the mext move(Kupreichik-Mochalov, Soviet Union, 1979).
• 14...Rc8 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Rc1 Nd4 17.Rxc8+ Bxc8 gives Black a considerable advantage in space.

14.0-0

• If 14.cxb5 Nd4 15.b6 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Qxb6 then:
• 17.0-0 Rc5 18.Qa4+ Ke7 19.Ba8 Qxb2 20.Rfb1 Qd2 21.Qxa6 Qc3 gives Black a cnsiderable advatage in space.
• 17.Qa4+ Ke7 18.0-0 Rc5 19.Ba8 Bg7 20.Rfe1 Qxb2 21.Qxa6 Qc3 gives Black the advatage in space.

14...Bg7?

• 14...Nd4 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Nf4 Bd7 17.Re1 Qg5 18.Nd5 gives Black the advatage in space.

BLACK: Irina Krush
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 14...Bf8g7

15.f4!

• White has the advantage in space in the actual game.
• If 15.cxb5 then:
• 15...Nd4 16.bxa6 f5 17.Bf3 0-0 18.Nc3 e4 19.Bh5 d5 is unclear: Black has a good-sized advantage in space, but White has two extra pawns.
• 15...axb5 16.Nxb5 Na5 17.Qd3 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Nc4 19.b4 0-0 20.Rfc1 gives White a substantial advantage in space.

15...Nd4

• 15...exf4 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Nxb5 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Be5 19.a4 0-0 20.Qh5 gives White a huge advantage in space.

BLACK: Irina Krush
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 15...Nc6d4

16.Qh5!

• This shot paralyzes White's kingside.

16...b4

• 16...bxc4 17.f5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Qf6 19.Nxc4 0-0 20.Nb6 Rc7 21.Be4 gives White the advantage in space.

17.Nxb4 Qb6

• After 17...exf4 18.Nd5 f3 19.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 20.Rxf3 Bxb2 21.Raf1 0-0 22.R1f2 Bd4 23.Nf6+ Bxf6 24.Rxf6 White has a great deal more mobility.
• 21...Bd4+ 22.Kh1 Rf8 23.Nf4 gives White a fklexible attack which she can easily shift from one wing to the other.

18.Nd5 Qxb2 19.f5 Bxd5

• If 19...Qe2 20.Qg5 Bxd5 then:
• 21.Bxd5! Rf8 22.Rfb1 Bh8 23.Rb7 f6 24.Bf7+ White wins.
• 21.Qxg7?! Qxe4 22.Qxh8+ Ke7 23.Qg7 Nxf5 24.Qg5+ f6 25.Qd2 Bxc4 gives Black an edge in space.

20.Bxd5 0-0

• If 20...Rf8 21.f6 Bh8 22.Qh3 then:
• 22...Kd8 23.Rfb1 Qc3 24.Qh6 White maintains a strong attack.
• After 22...Ne2+ 23.Kh1 Kd8 24.Rfb1 Qc3 25.Qh6 Re8 26.Bxf7 Whinte wins.

BLACK: Irina Krush
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 20...0-0

21.f6!

• Black pays for the awkward position of her kingside pieces.

21...Bxf6 22.Be4 Rfd8 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Qh6+ 1-0

• White wins the Bishop.
• Ms. Krush resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Cramling - Atalik, Women Masters' Tournament, Round 7

Pia Cramling
Photo: Chessbase.de (Germany)


Pia Cramling - Ekaterina Atalik
Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament, Round 7
Istanbul, 17 March 2008

Ortodox Queen's Gambit: Ragozin Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5

• 5.Bg5 then:
• 5...h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.0-0 cxd4 then:
• 11.exd4 Nc6 12.Ne4 Qf4 13.Qe2 Rd8 14.g3 Qg4 15.Rfd1 Bd7 16.a3 Be7 17.Qe3 Be8 18.b4 a6 19.Be2 Qh3 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.dxc5 Qf5 22.Bd3 Qf6 23.Be4 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 gives White a huge lead in space (Gelfand-Piket, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Qb3 Nc6 then:
• 13.Nxc6 Bxc3 14.Rxc3 Bxc6 15.Bb5 Bd5 16.Bc4 Bc6 17.Bb5 Bd5 18.Bc4 Bc6 19.Bb5 Bd5 draw (Roiz-Adams, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).
• 13.Nce2 Qe7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 17.Bd3 Rfc8 18.Rxc6 Rxc6 19.Be4 Rc7 20.Rd1 g6 21.g3 Bd6 22.Qb5 a6 23.Qd3 Be5 24.b3 Kg7 25.Kg2 Qb4 26.Bf3 Qe7 27.h4 h5 draw (Karpov-Giorgadze, Spanish ChT, Cala Galdana,. 2001).
• 5...dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qb3 a6 13.Be2 Nc6 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Qa3 Rc8 16.Rad1 Na5 17.Qc1 e5 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qxc3 20.Qh6 Ke7 21.Bh5 Qc4 22.Rc1 Qa4 23.Qg7 Qxa2 24.Ra1 Qc4 25.Rxa5 (space is even and White has a material advantage; watch Black fight back 25...Rhg8 26.Qh6 Rxg2+!! 27.Kxg2 Rg8+ 28.Bg6 Qg4+ 29.Kh1 Qf3+ 30.Kg1 hxg6 31.Re1 gxf5+ gives Black a winning attack (Friedman-Nickoloff, Toronto, 1998).

5...exd5

• If 5...Nxd5 6.Bd2 0-0 7.e4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Bd3 c5 10.0-0 Nc6 11.Be3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Qa5 13.a3 b6 14.d5 exd5 15.exd5 Nd8 16.Re1 Bf6 17.Rc1 Qxa3 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5 then:
• 19...Ba6? 20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Be7 Qd3 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Bxf8 gives White a won game (Kasparov-Larso, Sx, Cyberspace, 1995).
• 19...f6 20.Re3 Bg4 21.Bxh7+! Kh8 22.Rxa3 Bxd1 23.Bb1 fxg5 24.Rxd1 leaves Black with weak pawns on the kingside.

6.Bg5 Nbd7

• If 6...h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Nd2 then:
• 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3 11.Rc1 then:
• 11...Bb2 12.Bxc7 Qe7 13.Bd6 Qe6 14.Rb1 Bc3 15.Ba3 Nc6 16.e3 Bxd4 17.Bb5 Be5 18.0-0 Bd6 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.Ne4 Qe5 21.Qxd5 Qxd5 22.Nf6+ Kf8 23.Nxd5 Ne7 24.Nc7 Rb8 25.f4 Bf5 gives White a small advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Onischuk, Karpov Trmt, Poikovsky, 2006).
• 11...Ba5 12.h4 g4 13.e3 c6 14.Be2 Be6 15.0-0 Nd7 16.Nb3 Bc7 17.Bxg4 Bxg3 18.Bxe6 Bd6 19.Qh5 Qe7 20.Bxd7+ Qxd7 21.Nc5 Qe7 22.e4 Bxc5 23.dxc5 0-0-0 draw (Tukmakov-Inkiov, Op, Chania, 1992).
• 9...Nxg3 10.hxg3 c6 11.e3 Bf5 12.Be2 Nd7 13.Bg4 Bxg4 14.Qxg4 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qa5 16.Rc1 Qxa2 17.c4 0-0-0 18.Qf5 Kb8 19.c5 Qa6 20.Qxf7 Rhf8 21.Qh5 Nf6 22.Qe2 Qxe2+ 23.Kxe2 h5 is equal (Naumann-M. Richter, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 7...c5 8.e3 Nc6 9.dxc5 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 11.Bb5 Nxc3 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qd4 Nxa2+ 14.Nd2 0-0 15.Rxa2 a5 16.h4 f6 17.0-0 Re8 draw (Smejkal-Tal, IT, Wijk ann Zee, 1976).

7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 13.Bxd7

• 13.Bh3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bh6 Nb6 17.Bxc8 Raxc8 18.f3 Qf5 19.Rab1 Rc6 20.fxe4 Qxe4 21.Qf2 f6 22.Qg3 Is equal (W. Schmidt-Rogers, Bohemians, 1990).

13...Nxd7 14.Bh4

• 14.Rae1 Nb6 15.f3 Bd7 16.Bh4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Na4 18.Nb1 f5 19.Qf2 Qb6 20.Re2 Qc6 21.Bg3 Re6 22.Be5 Nc5 23.Qg3 draw (Graf-Godena, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

14...Nb6

• 14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.e4 Qa4 17.Qb1 Bd7 18.Re1 Re6 19.f3 Rae8 20.Qc1 f6 21.Bg3 Qa5 22.Rb1 Bc6 gives Black a small advantage in space, but he will not easily penetrate White's formidible center (Karpov-Giorgadze, Rapid, Villarrobledo (Spain), 1997).

15.e4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 dxe4!?

• 16...Qa4 17.Qb1 Bd7 18.f4 Qa3 19.Rf3 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Rxe4 21.Qxe4 Bc6 22.Qe2 Re8 23.Qf2 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Qa5 is equal (Nickoloff-Kovacevic, Toronto, 1989).

17.Nxe4 Nd5 18.Rae1

• 18.Nf6+ Nxf6 19.Bxf6 Bf5 20.Qd2 Re6 21.Bh4 Rae8 gives Black the advantage in space.

18...Bd7 19.f3 Qa3

• If 19...Re6 20.Re2 b6 21.Rfe1 then:
• 21...a6 22.Qd2 f5 23.Ng3 Rae8 24.Rxe6 Rxe6 25.Rxe6 Bxe6 is equal nd looks drawish.
• 21...f5 22.Ng3 Rxe2 23.Nxe2 Re8 gives Black the advantage in space.

20.Qd2 Re6?!

• Black has the advantage in space.
• 20...Bf5 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Bxf6 Qa6 23.Be7 Bd3 24.Rf2 b5 is equal.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
!""""""""#
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$p+ Q +pP%
$+ + RrK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 20...Re8e6

21.Nc5!

• White fights back.
• A good alternative is 21.Qh6 f6 22.Nc5 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Re8 24.Nxd7 Rxe1+ 25.Bxe1 Qe7 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6, leaving White a pawn to the good./li]

21...Rxe1 22.Rxe1 Bc6 23.Ne4 Re8 24.Nf6+

• 24.Bg3 Re6 25.Bh4 a6 26.Qf2 Kg7 27.Qd2 h6 28.Re2 b5 gives Black a modest advantage in space.

24...Nxf6 25.Bxf6 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1

• The position is approximately even.

26...h6 27.Qe5!

• White is showing aggressive intentions against the Black King. If now 27...Qxc3?? then 28.Qe8+ Kh7 Qh9#.

27...Qc1+?

• This opens the door for White to attack.
• Correct is 27...a6 28.Qb8+ Qf8 29.Qf4 b5 30.Qc7 Qe8 31.Kf1 with equality.

28.Kf2 Kh7
BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 28...Kg8h7

29.h4!

• White continues to weave a net around the Black King.
• 29.Qe7 Bd5 30.Qe8 Qd2+ 31.Kg3 g5 32.Qe5 Kg6 33.Bh8 f5 is equal.

29...Qc2+ 30.Kg3 Qf5

• Black is lost. This is the only move that prolongs the game.
• If 30...g5 31.h5 then:
• If 31...Qb1 32.Qe7 then:
• 32...Kg8 33.Qd8+ Kh7 34.Qh8#.
• 32...Qe1+ loses the Queen, but it is the only move that prevents a quick mate.
• 31...Qxc3 32.Qf5+ Kg8 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Qh8#.

31.Qxf5 gxf5 32.h5 b5

• Black's desperate plan is to sweep away White's pawn and advance the c-pawn. If Black's pawns were moved up one rank, it might work, but as it is she falls one tempo short.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
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WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 32...b7b5

33.a3!

• White can count moves, too. The surest road to a win is to let it all come down to that one tempo.

33...a5 34.Kf4 Kg8 35.Kxf5 b4 36.cxb4 axb4 37.axb4 c3 38.d5 c2 39.Bb2

• One tempo.

39...Bxd5 40.b5 Kf8 41.Ke5 Be4

• After 41...Bc4 42.b6 Ba6 43.Bc1 Kg7 44.Kd5 the position of White's King is so strong she can win by
  • Attacking the pawn at f7, forcing the King to choose between losing it or the pawn at h6;
  • Moving to escort the b-pawn to Scone, forcing Black to depart with her Bishop; or
  Capturing the pawn at c2, freeing her own Bishop for other duties.

42.Kxe4

• Further resistance is useless.
• Mrs. Atalik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Ushenina - Atalik, Women Masters' Tournament, Round 5

Ekaterina Atalik
Photo: from the official website of the Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament (Turkey)


Anna Ushenina - Ekaterina Atalik
Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament, Round 5
Istanbul, 15 March 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Worrall Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2

• If ]5.0-0 Be7 6.Qe2 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 transposes into the next note.
• The main line of the Spanish Grand Royal is 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3, after which Black has about a half dozen good defenses.

5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5

• 6...Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 d6 then:
• 9.d4 Bg4 10.Rd1 exd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qd7 15.h3 Bh5 16.g4 Bg6 17.Ne1 Na5 18.Bc2 Qc6 19.Be3 Bxc2 20.Qxc2 Nc4 21.Ng2 f6 22.exf6 Qxf6 23.Bf4 Bd6 24.Bxd6 Nxd6 25.Rd3 Rae8 26.Rf1 Re4 27.f3 Re7 28.f4 Rfe8 29.f5 Nc4 30.Qf2 draw (Spassky-Szabo, match, Gotegorg, 1955).
• If 9.Rd1 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.d5 then:
• 12...Bd7 13.b3 Nb7 14.Nbd2 Ne8 15.Nf1 g6 16.Bh6 Ng7 17.Ng3 Nd8 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra2 f6 21.Rda1 gives White the advantage in space (Adams-Korotylev, Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2007).
• 12...c4 13.b4 cxb3 14.axb3 Bg4 15.h3 Bh5 16.Bb2 Rfc8 gives Black a small edge in space (Tiviakov-Khalifman, IT, Belgrade, 1993).

7.0-0

• 7...Rb8 8.axb5 axb5 9.Nc3 0-0 10.d3 d6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.0-0 b4 is equal (Bogolyubov-Elikases, match, Nuernberg, 1939).

7...0-0 8.d3 d6 9.c3 h6 10.Rd1

• 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Qxe3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Nbd2 Qc7 14.Rac1 Nc6 15.Bb3 Re8 16.Nh4 Na5 17.Bd1 d5 18.Qg3 c4 19.b4 cxb3 20.axb3 b4 gives Black a slight edge in space (Mogranzini-Nyysti, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

10...Re8 11.h3

• 11.Nbd2 Ne7 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Bb6 14.e5 Nf5 15.Ne4 Bb7 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qd3 Qg6 18.Bc2 Nxd4 19.Qxg6 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 fxg6 21.exd6 cxd6 22.Rxd6 Bc5 23.Rxg6 is equal (Xu Yuhua-Liang Zhihua, Chinese ChT, Suzhou, 2001).

11...Bb6

• 11...Bb7 12.Nbd2 Bb6 13.a4 Qd7 14.Re1 Bc5 15.a5 Rab8 is equal.

12.Nbd2

• 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Qxe3 a5 14.Nbd2 Bb7 15.a4 b4 16.d4 gives White the advantage in space.

12...Be6 13.Bc2

• After her last move, Black has a comfortable advatage in space.
• Better for White is 13.Bxe6! Rxe6 14.a3 d5 15.b4 d4 16.c4 with equality.

13...Nh5 14.Nf1 Qf6 15.N3h2

• After 15.d4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nf4 17.Bxf4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Qxf4 Black retains her edge in space.

15...Ne7

• If 15...Rad8 16.Ne3 Nf4 17.Qf3 Qg6 18.Kh1 Bc8 19.a4 Ne7 20.d4 c5 21.axb5 axb5 gives Black a modest advatage.
• 17.Qf1?! Qg6 18.Kh1 Rd7 19.b4 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 gives Black a huge advatage in space.

16.Qf3 Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.a4

• If 18.d4 c6 19.Ng4 Qg5 then:
• 20.Bb3 d5 21.Ne5 dxe4 22.Qxe4 Ng6 23.Nf3 Qd8 is equal.
• If 20.Nd2 Ng6 then:
• After 21.e5 Bd5 22.Ne4 Qh4 23.Qd3 dxe5 24.Nd6 e4 25.Qf1 Re6 White has an extra pawn.
• 21.Qd3?! drops a pawn to 21...Bxg4 22.hxg4 Qxg4.

18...Ng6 19.d4?

• This freeing advance is premature and costs White a pawn.
• 19.Qh5 c5 20.Nf3 Ne5 21.N1d2 Rec8 22.axb5 axb5 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 gives Black a substnatial advantage in space.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
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WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 19.d3d4

19...Qg5 20.Qd3

• Black retains her advantage in space after 20.g4 fxg3 21.Qxg3 Nf4 22.Qxg5 Nxh3+ 23.Kg2 Nxg5.

20...Nh4 21.g4

• White cannot avoid the loss of a pawn.
• 21.Ng4 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Qxg4.
• 21.g3 Bxh3.

21...fxg3 22.Qxg3 Bxh3 23.Ne3

• If 23.Qxg5 hxg5 then:
• 24.Ne3 c6 25.b4 Ng6 26.Nf3 g4 27.Ng5 Nf4 yield an equal space count, but Black still holds the extra pawn.
• 24.Rd3 Be6 25.a5 Ba7 26.Rg3 f6 27.Ne3 c5 28.d5 Bf7 is equal in equal in space but Black remains a pawn to the good.

23...Be6

• Better is 23...c6 24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.Kh1 Be6 26.a5 Ba7 27.Rg1 f6 when Black has a small advantage in space and still has the pawn plus.

24.Nhg4?!

• 24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.b4 Ng6 26.a5 Ba7 27.Nf3 f6 gives White a small edge in space.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
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WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 24.Nh2g4

24...Ng6!

• The text is better than 24...h5 25.f4 Qe7 26.f5 hxg4 27.fxe6 Nf3+ 28.Kf2 Qxe6 when Black has a modest edge in space in addition to the extra pawn.

25.axb5 axb5 26.Rxa8

• 26.Nh2 Qxg3+ 27.fxg3 b4 28.Bd3 Bb3 29.Re1 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Ne5 gives Black a small edge in space to go with her extra pawn.

26...Rxa8 27.Nf5

• 27.Nh2 Qxg3+ 28.fxg3 yields Black a considerable advantage in space as ell as the extra pawn.

27...Re8 28.Bd3

• If 28.Nge3 Qxg3+ then:
• 29.fxg3 Ra8 30.Kf2 Ra2 31.Rb1 c5 Black has a modest edge in space.
• After 29.Nxg3 Ra8 30.Ngf5 Ra2 31.Rb1 h5 Black's h-pawn looks like trouble.

28...Bd7

• After 28...Nf4 29.Bxb5 Bxf5 30.exf5 c6 31.Bf1 c5 32.dxc5 Bxc5 although she has returned the extra pawn, Black has a comfortable lead in space.

29.Kf1 d5 30.f3

• 30.Nge3 dxe4 31.Qxg5 hxg5 32.Bc2 Bxf5 33.Nxf5 Nh4 34.Ne3 c6 Black is two pawns to the good.

30...dxe4 31.fxe4 Bxf5 32.exf5 Nh4

• If 32...Nf4 33.Qf3 b4 34.f6 h5 then:
• 35.Qc6 Rd8 36.Ne3 Qxf6 37.Qxf6 gxf6 38.Be4 h4 Black passed h-pawn looms dangerously.
• 35.Ne5 g6 36.Re1 bxc3 37.bxc3 Re6 another White pawn falls.

33.Kf2

• 33.Qh3 c5 34.Bxb5 Qxf5+ 35.Nf2 Qxh3+ 36.Nxh3 Rd8 37.d5 Nf5 Black remains a pawn to the good.

33...Nxf5

• If 33...c5 then:
• 34.Re1 Rxe1 35.Kxe1 cxd4 36.Qb8+ Qd8 37.Qxd8+ Bxd8 38.cxd4 Nf3+ wins another pawn.
• If 34.Bxb5 Re4 35.Be2 h5! then:
• 36.Rh1 cxd4 37.Qxh4 (a tempoary sacrifice) 37...d3+ 38.Kg3 Bc7+ 39.Kh3 hxg4+ White faces ruinous losses and possibly mate.
• 36.Kf1 Rf4+ 37.Ke1 cxd4 38.Ra1 then:
• 38...hxg4 Black is a piece to the good.

34.Nxh6+ Qxh6 35.Bxf5 Qf6 36.Qf3 b4 37.Rh1

• After 37.Bd3 Qh4+ 38.Qg3 Qh6 39.Kg1 c5 40.dxc5 Qh5 41.Rf1 Bxc5+ Black has an extra pawn and a strong attack.

37...g6 38.Bd3 Qxf3+

• After 38...Qg5 39.Bf1 c5 40.Qc6 Re6 41.Qa8+ Bd8 42.Bc4 Re3 Black is tightening the ropes about the White King.

39.Kxf3 bxc3 40.bxc3

• These are a few principles worth knowing:
• Bishops of opposite color endings are usually draw.
• Rook against Rook and pawn ending are often drawn.
• In the case of a Rook and pawn against Rook. the attacker wins if her King can reach the queening square and excort the pawn home.
• In the case of a Rook and two pawns against a lone Rook, if the pawns are connected, they almost always win.
A Rook against a lone pawn where the pawn can reach the seventh rank, the pawn can draw or win.
• In the case of a Rook agaisnt two connected pawns, if both pawns are on the sixth rank or beyond, the pawns win.
• Two connected passed pawns usually win against a lone Bishop.

40...Kg7 41.Bb5

• 41.Ra1 f5 42.Ra6 Rd8 43.Ke3 Rh8 44.Bf1 g5 45.Kf3 Rh4

41...Ra8 42.Ke4

• After 42.Re1 Ra3 43.Re3 f5 44.c4 Ra5 45.Rd3 Kf6 46.Ke3 g5 Black is better in a classic endgame struggle to push and block pawns.

42...f5+ 43.Kd5 Rd8+ 44.Ke5 c5!

• Black exchanges one of White pawns.

45.dxc5

• 45.d5? loses the pawn to 45...Bc7+! 46.Ke6 Rd6+ 47.Ke7 Rxd5.

45...Bxc5 46.Bc6 Bf2

• 46...Bd6+ 47.Ke6 Bc7 48.Bd5 Rd6+ 49.Ke5 Ra6+ 50.Kd4 g5 gets Black's connected pawns rolling.

47.Rh3 Bb6 48.Bd5

• 48.Ke6 Bc7 49.Bd7 Rf8 50.Rd3 Rf6+ 51.Ke7 Bb6 52.c4 f4 mobilizes Black's pawns.

48...Bc7+ 49.Kd4

• After 49.Ke6 Rd6+ 50.Ke5 g5 51.Rh1 Rd8+ 52.Ke6 Kg6 53.c4 g4 it is clear that White's connected pawns are an advantage.

49...Bb6+

• Black misses the stronger 49...g5 50.c4 f4 51.Ke4 g4 52.Rh4 g3 when her pawns rapidly approach the castle gates.

50.Ke5 Re8+ 51.Kd6

• If 51.Be6 f4 52.Rd3 Bc7+ then:
• After 53.Kd5 Kf6 54.Bd7 Re3 55.Rxe3 fxe3 56.Bg4 Kg5 57.Be2 Kf4 Black bring the g-pawn forward.
• 53.Ke4 Rxe6+ 54.Kf3 Kf6 55.Kg4 Rc6 56.Rh3 Be5 is easily won for Black.

51...Kf6 52.c4 Be3 53.Rh7 f4

• Also good is 53...Rf8 54.Rh3 f4 55.Rh6 Kf5 56.Bf3 Rd8+ 57.Kc7 Rg8.

54.Rd7 Rc8 55.Rf7+ Kg5 56.Kd7

• If 56.Ke5 Re8+ 57.Be6 Bd4+ 58.Kd6 Bf6 then:
• If 59.c5 f3 60.c6 Rd8+ 61.Rd7 Kf4 then:
• 62.Bd5 Rxd7+ 63.Kxd7 Be5 64.Ke6 f2 65.Bg2 g5 Black wins.
• 62.c7 Be5+ 63.Kc6 Rxd7 64.c8Q Rc7+ 65.Qxc7 Bxc7 66.Kxc7 Black wins.
• If 59.Bd5 Re3 60.c5 Be5+ 61.Kd7 Kg4 then:
• 62.c6 f3 63.Bc4 g5 64.Rf8 Kg3 65.Rg8 g4After sacrificing the Bishop for the last pawn, Black wins; the task would be made easier by a further exchange, including the sacrifice of the Rook for the remaining Bishop.
• 62.Rf8 f3 63.c6 g5 64.Re8 f2 65.Bc4 Re1 66.Rg8 f1Q! 67.Bxf1 Rxf1 68.Re8 Bf4 Black sacrifices the Bishop for the last pawn and wins, as her King should have no trouble reaching the queening square.

56...Rb8 57.Kc7

• If 57.Kd6 Rh8 58.Rg7 Bd4 59.Rb7 Kh4 60.Rb1 g5 then:
• 61.Rd1 Bf6 62.c5 Rf8 63.c6 Bd8 prepares for the sacrifice of the Bishop for White's last pawn. After that, once the Black pawns reach the sixth rank, she can sacrifice the Rook for the reamining Bishop and have an easy theoretical win.
• 61.Rh1+ Kg3 62.Rxh8 Bxh8 63.c5 Bc3 64.c6 Ba5 prepares for the sacrifice of the Bishop for White's last pawn with the knowledge that two connected passed pawns beat a minor piece in the endgame.

57...Rb6 58.Re7 Rf6

• Also good is 58...Kg4 59.Re5 Kh4 60.Bc6 g5 61.c5 Rb1.

59.Bf3

• If 59.Kd7 Kh4 then:
• After 60.Re6 Rxe6 61.Kxe6 Kg4 62.Ke5 f3 63.Be6+ Kh4 64.Bd5 f2 65.Bg2 Kg3 66.Bf1 Kf3 the g-pawn advances and, once reaching the second rank, forces the White Bishop to give way.
• 60.Rg7 g5 61.Ke7 Bd4 62.Bf3 Kg3 63.Bb7 Rf5 64.Ke6 Re5+ 65.Kd6 f3 it will cost White a piece to stop the pawn.

59...Kh4 60.Re5 g5 61.c5 g4 62.Bd1

• If 62.Be2 then:
• 62...Bf2 63.c6 f3 64.Re4 fxe2 65.Rxe2 g3 66.Re4+ Kh3 67.Kd7 Black uncorks the sacrifice 67...Rxc6!! which assures that her pawn reaches the seventh rank, winning.
• Also good is the immediate piece sacrifice 62...Bxc5!! 63.Rxc5 f3 64.Rc2 fxe2 65.Rxe2 g3 66.Re4+ Kh3 67.Re3 Rg6 68.Kd7 Kh2, winning.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ K + + %
$ + + T +%
$+ P R + %
$ + + OoL%
$+ + V + %
$ + + + +%
$+ +b+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 62.Bf3d1

62...Bxc5!!

• This sacrifice is as good here as in the previous note.

63.Rxc5 f3 64.Rc4

• Black wins after 64.Rc2 f2 65.Be2 Kh3 66.Bf1+ Kh2 67.Kd7 g3 68.Ke7 Rf4.

64...Kg3 65.Kd7 Rf4 66.Rc1

• 66.Rxf4 Black wins with 66...Kxf4 67.Bb3 g3 68.Bd5 g2 when the g-pawn queens.

66...f2 67.Be2 Re4 68.Bb5 Re1 69.Rc3+

• After 69.Rc5 Rb1 70.Be2 Kg2 71.Rf5 g3 72.Kc6 Re1 73.Bb5 Kh3 74.Rf7 g2 the g-pawn is poised to promote.

69...Kh4 70.Kd6

• 70.Rc8 g3 71.Rh8+ Kg4 72.Rg8+ Kf4 73.Rf8+ Ke3 74.Re8+ Kd4 75.Rg8 Rg1 would be a little more stubborn.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + K + +%
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$+ R + + %
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$+ + T + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 70.Kd7d6

70...f1Q!

• The text is more forceful than 70...g3 71.Rc4+ Kh3 72.Rc3 Kh2 73.Rf3 Rb1 74.Bc4 Rb2 75.Rf8 g2.

71.Bxf1 Rxf1 72.Ke5 g3 73.Rc2 Kh3 74.Ke4 0-1

• Ms. Ushenina resigns without waiting for Mrs. Atalik to reply.
• No doubt Black would have played 74...g2, winning immediately.

[Mabus]

9. It looks like the board is in the starting position

The other diagrams in the thread are good but this one looks like the starting position.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Yes, it is in the starting position

Which, IMHO, is a theoretical draw.

I guess you downloaded the right font.

[Mabus]

11. Had to, Leipzig didn't work

fwiw, my husband taught chess for a number of years. I/We've used a number of chess fonts over the years to create chess tests for his students. I've got a lot of chess fonts on my computer.

I print out the games you've posted in the past and have shared them with my husband (who at this moment is playing on ICC). Thanks for all the work you do.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from Nice

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
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$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
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$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Kramnik - Anand, Amber Rapid, Round 1

This is definately the game of the week. Some say it is the best game of chess played so far this year.



Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand
Melody Amber Tournament, Rapid Competion, Round 1
Nice, 15 March 2008

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Bronstein Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6

• The old main line of the Queen's Indian is 4...Bb7. We'll take a more thorough look at that another day.

5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7

• If 6...Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 c6 8.Bg2 d5 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• 10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nc3 Nf6 then:
• 14.Rac1 Qd6 15.Rc2 Rac8 16.Rfc1 Rc7 17.Nb1 Rfc8 18.Rxc7 Rxc7 19.Rxc7 Qxc7 draw (Tal-Ivkov, Sarajevo, 1966).
• 14.Rfc1 Qd6 15.Rc2 Rac8 16.Rac1 Rc7 17.Bf1 Qe7 18.e3 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Qd7 20.a4 Rfc8 21.Nb5 Rxc2 22.Rxc2 Ne4 23.Qc1 Rxc2 24.Qxc2 g6 25.Ke2 Nd6 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.f4 draw (Bagirov-Razuvaev, Soviet Ch cycyle, Fruze, 1979).
• 10.Rc1 Nbd7 11.Qb2 c5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Nc3 Re8 14.Rd1 Bb7 15.e3 Qe7 16.Rac1 Nf8 17.Nh4 Red8 is equal (Chernin-Raxuvaev, Rapid, Tilburg, 1994).

7.Bg2 c6

• If 7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nc3 0-0 10.0-0 Bb7 then:
• 11.Qc2 Na6 12.Rfd1 Qc8 13.Bf4 Rd8 14.Ng5 Qd7 15.Be5 g6 16.Bh3 Qe8 17.Qc1 c5 18.a4 Nh5 19.Ne6 Bc8 20.Nxd8 Bxh3 21.Nb7 Qc6 22.e4 dxe4 23.d5 Qxb7 24.d6 Bf8 25.Nd5 Be6 gives Black a theoretical two pawn advantage in an asymmetrical material balace while White has almost enough space to compensate for it (Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2007).
• 11.Rc1 Na6 12.Ne5 Re8 13.Bf4 h6 14.Qd3 Ba3 15.Rcd1 Qc8 16.h3 Bf8 17.g4 c5 18.e3 Nb4 19.Qd2 Ne4 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.a3 Nd5 22.Bg3 cxd4 23.exd4 Bxa3 24.Bxe4 Nf6 25.Bxb7 Qxb7 is equal (Kulikov-Lugovoi, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2000).

8.Bc3

• 8.0-0 d5 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Rd1 0-0 11.Bf4 Rc8 12.Nc3 then:
• 12...Nh5 13.Bc1 then:
• 13...f5 14.e3 Qe8 15.Bb2 g5 16.Ne2 Ng7 17.Ne5 h5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Nc1 Ne4 20.Ncd3 Bb7 is equal (Sakaev-Grigoriants, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 13...Nhf6 14.Bf4 Nh5 15.Bc1 Nhf6 16.Bf4 Nh5 is a draw by repetition that has been played more than once.
• If 12...h6 then:
• 13.e4 dxc4 14.Nd2 b5 15.bxc4 bxc4 16.Na4 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.exd5 Nh5 19.Be3 Bf6 20.Rab1 Bd4 21.Ne4 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Qe7 23.Nac3 Nhf6 24.Kh1 Nxe4 25.Nxe4 Nb6 26.a4 Rfd8 is equal (Yevseev-Lugovoi, Muni Ch, St. Petersburg, 2004).
• 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bc1 f5 15.a4 Bd6 16.a5 bxa5 17.Ba3 Bxa3 18.Rxa3 dxc4 19.Rda1 c5 20.Rxa5 cxd4 21.Nxd4 cxb3 22.Qxb3 Bc4 23.Qd1 gives White a modest advantage in space (Grischuk-Tomashevsky, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).

8...d5 9.Ne5

• If 9.Nbd2 Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 c5 12.e4 then:
• If 12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 then:
• 13...Bb7 14.Nfg5 cxd4 15.Bxd4 Qc7 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Ne4 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Rad8 20.Rad1 Qa8 21.Qc3 Nb8 22.Nf6+ gxf6 23.Qxf6 Rxd1 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qf6+ draw (Schandorff-B. Socko, Ol. Bled, 2002).
• 13...Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Bb7 15.Re3 Bf6 16.dxc5 Bxc3 17.Rxc3 Nxc5 18.b4 Qf6 19.Qd4 Ne4 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Rd3 Rfc8 22.Nd2 f5 23.Re1 Rab8 24.Nxe4 draw (Cu. Hansen-Timman, IT, Malmö, 2001).
• 12...dxc4 13.Nxc4 Bb7 14.e5 Nd5 15.Bb2 b5 16.Ne3 N7b6 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Qe2 b4 20.Rac1 Qe7 21.Rc2 Rfc8 22.Rec1 Qf8 23.Qb5 is equal (Boychev-Córdoba, Belfort, 2005).

9...Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.0-0 f5

• If 12...Rc8 13.e4 then:
• If 13...b5 14.Re1 dxe4 then:
• 15.Nxe4 bxc4 16.Qe2 Rb8 17.Bf1 Qc8 18.bxc4 Nb6 19.Nd2 Na4 20.Ba5 c5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Adams-Mamedyarov, IT, Sofia, 2007).
• 15.Bxe4 bxc4 16.bxc4 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.Bxd5 Bf6 19.Rc1 Bxc3 20.Rxc3 Nf6 21.Bf3 Rc7 22.Nb3 Qxd1 23.Rxd1 Bc8 24.Kg2 h6 25.Rd6 Be6 26.Na5 Rb8 27.Rb3 draw (Timoshenko-V. Gurevich, Op. Mainz, 1995).
• 13...c5 14.exd5 exd5 15.dxc5 dxc4 16.c6 cxb3 17.Re1 b2 18.Bxb2 Nc5 19.Nc4 Bxc4 20.Qg4 Bg5 21.Qxc4 Nd3 22.Be5 Nxe1 23.Rxe1 Bf6 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.c7 Qd6 gives Black the exchange, but White space advantage compensates for it.(Sasikiran-Shirov, IT, Foros, 2007).
• 12...Nf6 13.e4 b5 14.Re1 dxe4 15.Qc2 Rb8 16.Rad1 Qc8 17.Bf1 bxc4 18.bxc4 c5 19.Nxe4 cxd4 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxd4 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Qc5 23.Red1 would be equal if Black plays 23...Bb7, not 23...g6 as he actually did (Kallai-Adams, French ChT, Montpellier, 2001).

13.Rc1 Nf6

• 13...Rc8 14.Bb2 Bd6 15.a3 Qe7 16.Rc2 Nf6 17.Qc1 Kh8 18.e3 Ne4 19.Rd1 Bb7 20.b4 Bb8 21.Bf1 Qe8 22.a4 a6 gives Black a small edge in space (Karpov-Z. Almasi, IT, Biel, 1996).

14.Bb2 Bd6!?

• 14...Rc8 15.Rc2 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.cxd5 Rfd8 19.Nc4 Bb7 20.Rd2 Bb4 21.Rd3 b5 22.Ne3 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has more than enough of a space advantage to compensate for it.(Polaczek-Veenstra, cyberspace, 1999).

15.Nf3

• If 15.e3 Ne4 then:
• 16.f3 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 then:
• 17...Qc7 18.Qe2 e5 19.f4 exf4 20.exf4 dxc4 21.bxc4 Rae8 22.Qd3 is equal.
• 17...Qg5 18.Rfe1 Rfd8 19.a3 Bb7 20.c5 bxc5 21.dxc5 Bc7 is equal.
• 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Qg4 Qe7 18.f3 exf3 19.Rxf3 Rxf3 20.Bxf3 is equal.

15...Qe7 16.Ne5 Rac8 17.Nd3 Rfd8

• If 17...Nd7 18.Re1 then:
• 18...Rc7 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Rxc7 Bxc7 21.Qc1 Bd6 22.Qe3 Nf6 23.Rc1 is equal.
• 18...dxc4 19.bxc4 c5 20.Qa4 Nb8 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.e4 fxe4 23.Rxe4 gives White an edge in space

18.Re1 Qe8 19.e3 g5 20.Rc2 g4 21.Qc1 Qe7

• If 21...Ne4 22.Rd1 then:
• 22...dxc4 23.bxc4 c5 24.dxc5 Nxc5 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Rd2 is equal.
• 22...Qf8 23.f3 gxf3 24.Bxf3 Qh6 25.Nf4 is equal.

22.Rd1 Ne4 23.c5 bxc5 24.dxc5 Bb8

• Black holds the advantage in space.

25.Ne5 Ng5

• If 25...Bb7 26.Bd4 Bc7 27.Qa3 then:
• 27...Ra8 28.Bb2 d4 29.Nxg4 h5 30.f3 d3 31.Rc4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 27...a6 28.Qb4 Rb8 29.Qa4 Qe8 30.Bb2 is equal.

26.Qa1

• 26.Qd2! Nf7 27.Nxf7 Qxf7 28.Qa5 Qb7 29.f4 gxf3 30.Bxf3 gives White a small advantage in space.

26...Nf7 27.Nxf7 Kxf7

• On the board, Black currently holds the advantage in space.
• After 27...Qxf7 28.Be5 Rf8 29.f4 gxf3 30.Bxf3 Bxe5 31.Qxe5 White has a considerable advantage in space.

28.a4!?

• Black begins a queenside advance that Black should repulse with accurate play.
• After 28.Be5 Bxe5 29.Qxe5 Qc7 30.Qc3 e5 31.f4 gxf3 32.Bxf3 Rb8 Black continues to hold the advantage in space.

28...h5?

• Black appears to underestimate White's queenside threat.
• Better is 28...e5 29.Qa3 Bc7 30.b4 Bc4 31.Rcd2 Rb8 when Black increases his spatial advantage.

29.b4 h4
BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ VtT + +%
$O + Wl+ %
$v+o+o+ +%
$+ Po+o+ %
$pP + +oO%
$+ + P P %
$ Br+ PbP%
$Q +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 29...h5h4

30.b5!

• The space count is approximately even (12-10 in White's favor), but White has most of his space accumulated on the queenside where he has the initiative.
• 30.Rdd2 Bc7 31.Bc3 Bc4 32.gxh4 Qxh4 33.Be5 Bxe5 34.Qxe5 is equal.

30...Bb7

• Despite his good fortune, White can slip easily in this position.
• If 30...cxb5!? 31.Bf1 then:
• 31...hxg3 32.hxg3 then:
• 32...Rxc5! 33.Ba3 Bd6 34.Bxc5 Bxc5 35.Rdc1 Rc8 36.Qa2 gives Black a commanding advantage in space.
• 32...Qb7?! 33.Bg7 Kg8 34.Qf6 Qxg7 35.Qxe6+ Kh7 36.Qxa6 gives White a commanding advantage ins space.
• 31.axb5?! Bxb5 32.Rdd2 Rc6 33.Ba3 Bc7 gives Black a small advantage in space.

31.Rdc1

• If 31.b6 Ba6 32.a5 Bc4 33.Qa3 then:
• 33...axb6 (34.axb6 Ke8 35.Rb1 e5 36.e4 fxe4 37.Bxe4 Qf7 38.Rxc4 dxc4 39.Qe3 is equal.
• 33...hxg3 34.fxg3 axb6 35.axb6 Ke8 36.Rf2 Rd7 37.Rc1 Qg5 is equal.

31...Kg6

• If 31...e5 32.b6 hxg3 33.fxg3 then:
• 33...axb6 34.cxb6 Bd6 35.a5 Qg5 36.Re1 Ke6 37.a6 Ra8 Black continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.
• 33...Ke6 34.a5 Ba6 35.Rf2 axb6 36.axb6 Bc4 37.Qa4 Qxc5 wins a pawn.

32.Be5!

• White has a clear advantage in space.
• 32.b6 axb6 33.cxb6 Bd6 34.a5 Ra8 35.Bc3 c5 is unclear: Black has a small advantage in space, but White has connected passed pawns on the queenside.

32...Bxe5 33.Qxe5 Qf6 34.Qd4?!

• Your humble servant has been emphasizing space quite a bit, so one should know by now that when ahead in space, one should avoid exchanges. White, with the advantage in space, is inviting an exchange of Queens.
• After 34.Qxf6+?! Kxf6 35.gxh4 Rh8 36.b6 Rxh4 37.a5 a6 38.Ra2 Rch8 Black breaks through on the kingside.
• If 34.Qf4! e5! 35.Qb4 then:
• After 35...Kf7 36.Qa5 hxg3 37.fxg3 Rd7 38.Rf1 Qg5 39.Rxf5+ Qxf5 40.Rf2 Qxf2+ 41.Kxf2 Black's entire position is threatened by the White Queen.
• 35...h3 36.Bh1 Kh7 37.Qa5 Ra8 38.Rb1 Qe7 39.f3 Kg8 40.Rf2 leaves White poised to shift his attack to the kingside.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ +tT + +%
$Ov+ + + %
$ +o+oWl+%
$+pPo+o+ %
$p+ Q +oO%
$+ + P P %
$ +r+ PbP%
$+ R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 34.Qe5d4

34...e5!

• In addition to exchanging pieces, one of the best ways to fight with a space disadvantage is to close open lines.

35.Qb4 hxg3 36.hxg3

• 36.fxg3 Kf7 37.Rf1 Ke7 38.Rcf2 f4 39.a5 Rb8 40.exf4 e4 41.b6 leaves White with an extra pawn.

36...Rd7 37.Qa5 Rh8! 38.Qxa7 f4

• 38...Ra8 39.Qb6 Rxa4 40.Rb2 Kf7 41.Bf1 Ke7is equal.

39.exf4 exf4 40.gxf4 Rdh7 41.Qb6?

• 41.bxc6 Bxc6 42.Qa6 Ra8 43.Qd3+ leaves White two pawns to the good.

41...Qxf4 42.bxc6

• White is so intnet on advancing pawns on the queenside that he seems oblivious to cumbustable conditions on the other wing.
• It's too late to save White's game. After 42.Kf1 Rh1+ 43.Bxh1 Rxh1+ 44.Ke2 Qf3+ 45.Kd2 Rh3 it's lights out.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ + + + T%
$+v+ + +t%
$ Qp+ +l+%
$+ Po+ + %
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 42.bc6:p

42...Qf3!!

• Black lights the match and up goes White's house in flames.
• Beautiful, simple, powerful, decisive. The ability to make moves like this is the reason Vishy Anand is the world champion.

43.cxb7+ Kf5

• 44.Bxf3 gxf3 45.b8Q Rh1#.
• 44.b8Q Rh1+ 45.Bxh1 Rxh1#.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Carlsen - Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Round 1

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Vassily Ivanchuk
Melody Amber Tournament, Blindfold Competition, Round 1
Nice, 15 March 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Open Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4

• This defense is not often played nowadays, but in the past it was a favorite of Dr. Tarrasch, Rubinstein, Euwe and, more recently, Korchnoi.

6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6

• Up to here, there is very little straying off the reservation.

9.Be3

• If 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 then:
• If 10...Be7 11.Bc2 Bg4 12.Re1 then:
• If 12...Qd7 13.Nf1 Rd8 14.Ne3 Bh5 then:
• 15.b4?! Ne6 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 0-0 18.a4 Rfe8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Rb8 21.Qe2 Ncd8 22.Ra5 d4 23.Rd1 c6 24.N3xd4 Bg5 25.Nxe6 Nxe6 26.Bc4 Qc7 27.Bxe6 Bxc1 28.Rd7 Qb6 29.Bxf7+ Bxf7 30.Raa7 Ra8 31.Rxa8 Rxa8 32.e6 Black resigns (Khalifman-Marin, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 15.Nf5 0-0 16.Nxe7+ Nxe7 17.Be3 Na4 18.Qd3 Ng6 19.e6 fxe6 20.Ne5 Nxb2 21.Nxd7 Nxd3 22.Nxf8 Nxe1 23.Bxg6 Bxg6 24.Nxg6 Nc2 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Nc6 Rd6 27.Bc5 Nxa1 28.Nd4 Kf7 29.f4 Nc2 30.Nxc2 Rc6(Marjanovic-Korchnoi, Belgrade, 1987).
• 12...0-0 then:
• 13.Nb3 Ne6 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.Qd2 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Qd7 19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Rd2 Na7 21.Red1 c6 22.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Ziatdinov-Mikhalevski, Op, Caerleon (Wales), 2005).
• 13.Nf1 then:
• 13...Re8 14.h3 Bh5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.N3h4 Rad8 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Ne6 22.Bg3 c5 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Bd3 draw (Svidler-Jussupow, Budesliga, Germany, 2003).
• 13...Bh5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Be3 Qd7 16.h4 Rad8 17.h5 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Ne6 19.Rad1 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.h6 g6 22.Ne4 Qf7 23.Neg5 Bxg5 24.Nxg5 Nxg5 25.Bxg5 Rd7 26.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-E. Torre, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
• If 10...d4 11.Bxe6 Nxe6 12.cxd4 Ncxd4 13.a4 Be7 14.Nxd4 then:
• 14...Qxd4 15.axb5 Qxe5 16.bxa6 0-0 17.Qa4 Nc5 18.Qc4 Rfb8 19.Ra5 Qd6 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qb4 22.Qxb4 Bxb4 23.Ra4 Rb6 24.a7 Bc5 25.Rd1 h6 26.b4 Rxb4 27.Rxb4 Bxb4 28.Be3 Kf8 29.Rb1 Black resigns (Topalov-Korchnoi, IT, Madrid, 1996).
• 14...Nxd4 15.Ne4 0-0 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Be3 Qc8 18.Qc2 Qe6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Ra4 Rd7 21.Rfa1 Qd5 22.h3 f6 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.Rxa6 Rxa6 26.Rxa6 Nd4 27.Qa4 gives White a huge lead in space (Adams-Jussupow, Op, Hastings, 1989).
• If 9.c3 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 f5 then:
• If 12.Nb3 Qd7 13.Nbd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 c5 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.f3 Ng5 17.a4 then:
• 17...Rad8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qe2 c4 20.Be3 b4 21.Qd2 b3 22.Bd1 f4 23.Bxf4 Qf5 24.Be3 Qxe5 25.Be2 gives Black the advantage in space (J. Geller-S. Atalik, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 17...g6 18.Kh1 Qc6 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.f4 Be7 21.Qf3 c4 22.Rfd1 Rfd8 23.b4 a5 24.axb5 Qxb5 is equal (Khairullin-Fressinet, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nb3 Bg4 14.Qd3 Ne4 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bd6 17.Nxb5 Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 axb5 19.Kg1 Bf5 20.Qxb5 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Bxc2 22.Be3 Rf5 is equal (Boleslavsky-Levenfish, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1947).
• If 9...Bc5 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 then:
• 11...Bf5 12.Nb3 Bg6 13.Nfd4 Bxd4 14.cxd4 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nd2 a3 17.Nxe4 axb2 18.Rb1 Bxe4 19.Rxb2 Qd7 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 b4 22.Rc1 Rfb8 23.Qb1 Rb7 24.h3 Ra4 25.Rc5 h6 is equal (Lobron-Korchnoi, Paris, 1984).
• 11...f5 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.cxd4 f4 16.f3 Ng3 17.hxg3 fxg3 18.Qd3 Bf5 19.Qxf5! Rxf5 20.Bxf5 Qh4 21.Bh3 Qxd4+ 22.Kh1 Qxe5 23.Bd2 Qxb2 24.Bf4 c5 25.Be6+ gives White a theoretical two-pawn material advantage in an asymmetrical balance (Smyslov-Reshevsky, Team Match, via radio, 1945).
• If 11...Nxd2 12.Qxd2 f6 13.exf6 Rxf6 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bb6 then:
• 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Qc3 Qd6 19.Be3 Bf5 is equal (Dr. Lasker-Rubinstein, IT, St. Petersburg, 1914).
• 16.Nc1 a3 17.b3 f6 18.Nd3 fxe5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.dxe5 Re8 22.Rc1 Rxe5 23.Qxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxc7 Red5 gives White a comfortable advatage in space (Karjakin-Kaidanov, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

9...Qd7!?

• If 9...Be7 10.c3 0-0 11.Nbd2 then:
• If 11...Qd7 then:
• If 12.Re1 Rad8 13.Bc2 Bf5 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxd7 Rxd7 17.e6 fxe6 18.Nd2 then:
• 18...Ne5 19.Nxe4 Nd3 20.Re2 Rf5 21.g3 Kf7 22.a4 h6 23.axb5 axb5 24.Ra6 Re5 25.f3 gives White the advantage in space (Shirov-Mamedyarov, Euro ChT, Izmir (Turkey), 2004).
• 18...Rf5 19.Nxe4 Rfd5 20.f3 Kf7 21.Kf1 a5 22.Ke2 a4 23.b3 b4 24.Rec1 axb3 25.axb3 bxc3 26.Rxc3 Nb4 27.Ra7 c6 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Rc4 Rb7 30.Nd2 Rb5 31.Ne4 Nd5 32.Rxc6 Rxb3 33.Bd2 draw (Domínguez-Bruzón, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2007).
• 12.Bc2 f5 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Qb1 Kh8 15.Ng5 Ng4 16.Nxh7 Rf5 17.Qd1 Nxe3 18.fxe3 g6 19.a4 b4 20.cxb4 Nxb4 21.Bxf5 Bxf5 22.Nf3 Kxh7 finds the asymmetrical material balance is theoretically equal and Black has a substantial advantage in space (Ganguly-Nielsen, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• 11...Nxd2 12.Qxd2 Na5 13.Nd4 c5 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.Qd3 g6 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.Qg3 Bf8 19.Bg5 Qc7 20.b3 Nxe5 21.Rae1 Bg7 22.f4 Nd7 23.Rxe6 Nf8 24.Re2 h6 25.Bh4 g5 26.fxg5 Qxg3 27.Bxg3 hxg5 28.Rxf7 Kxf7 is equal (Bogoluobov-Elikases, Match, Ratisbon, 1939).
• 11...Bg4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qd5 exf3 14.Qxc6 fxg2 15.Qxg2 Qd7 16.Bh6 gxh6 17.f3 h5 18.Rad1 Qf5 19.fxg4 Qxe5 20.Rde1 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Rad8 22.Rf5 allows White to win back the pawn (Kasparov-Jussupow, Minsk, 1979).

10.c3?!

• If 10.a4!? Na5 11.axb5 Nxb3 12.cxb3 Qxb5 then:
• 13.Nc3 Qb7 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Ra5 Qb4 16.Nc6 gives White the initiative and the advantage in space.
• 13.Nd4 Qb4 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qxc3 16.Rc1 Qa5 gives Black more space, but White has the initiative.

10...Nc5

• 10...Rd8 11.Nbd2 Bg4 12.Qe1 Be7 13.h3 Nxd2 14.Nxd2 Bf5 gives Black the edge in space.

11.Bc2 Bg4

• 11...Be7 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.Re1 f6 14.exf6 Rxf6 15.b4 is equal.

12.Nbd2 Ne6?!

• The position is equal
• 12...Qe6 13.Qc1 Nd7 14.Ng5 Qxe5 15.Re1 Be7 gives Black a substantial advantage in space.

13.h3 Bh5 14.a4

• If 14.Qb1 Rd8 then:
• 15.Re1 d4 16.cxd4 Ncxd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Qxd4 19.Nb3 Qb6 gives Black more freedom to maneuver and two Bishops in an open field.
• After 15.Bxh7?? Rxh7 16.Qxh7 g6 the Queen is imprisioned.

14...Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Bf5!

• 16.Qc1 Be7 17.Re1 Bg6 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qc2 Rh5 20.Bd4 Nf4 is equal.

16...Be7 17.Nb3

• If 17.b4?! d4 18.cxd4 Bxb4 then:
• 19.Qc2 Bxd2 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Nxd2 0-0 22.Nb3 is equal.
• 19.Qb3 Bxd2 20.Nxd2 Ncxd4 21.Bxd4 Qxd4 22.Bxe6 Qxd2 23.g4 0-0 gives Black an extra pawn.

17...0-0

• 17...Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nxe5 19.Qe2 Ng6 20.Ra6 0-0 21.Qg4 is unclear: White has a considerable advantage in space, but Black has an extra pawn.

18.Nbd4 Ncxd4 19.cxd4 Bg6

• If 19...Rfe8 20.Qe2 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Qxf5 then:
• If 22.g4 Qxe5 23.Nc6 then:
• 23...Qe6 24.Nxb8 Rxb8 25.gxh5 d4 26.Rfe1 dxe3 27.Qxe3 Qxe3 28.Rxe3 gives White an advantage in space and material, but this is tempered by his atrocious pawn structure.
• White is better after 23...Qe4 24.Nxb8 Rxb8 25.gxh5 d4 26.Qg4 Qxg4+ 27.hxg4 dxe3 28.fxe3.
• 22.Nxf5 Bxe2 23.Rfe1 Bc4 24.Nxe7+ Rxe7 25.Bc5 Rd7 26.Bd4 h5 is equal.

20.Bg4

• 20.Bxg6 fxg6 21.Qc2 Ra8 22.Rfc1 b4 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.b3 is equal.

20...Ra8 21.Qd2 h6

• 21...Ra4 22.b3 Raa8 23.Ra5 b4 24.Rfa1 Rxa5 25.Rxa5 Qc6 26.Qc1 is equal.

22.Nh2

• 22.Ra5 Rxa5 23.Qxa5 c6 24.Rc1 Rc8 25.b3 Qe8 26.Ra1 gives White an advantage in space that looks durable.

22...c6 23.Rfc1

• if 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.f4 h5 then:
• 25.f5! hxg4 26.fxg6 fxg6 27.Nxg4 then:
• 27...c5! 28.dxc5 Nxc5 29.Rd1 Rd8 30.Qc2 gives White a narrow advantage.
• 27...Kh7 28.Rc1 Ra6 29.b3 b4 30.Rf1 Ra3 31.Qc2 gives White a considerable advantage in space.
• 25.Bd1 Nd8 26.f5 Bxf5 27.Bxh5 Be6 is equal.

23...Rfc8

• 23...Rxa1 24.Rxa1 then:
• 24...f5 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.Nf3 Qd6 is equal.
• 24...b4 25.b3 Qb7 26.Qa2 Rc8 27.Qa7 Qxa7 28.Rxa7 Rc7 29.Ra8+ give White the advantage in space.

24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.f4

• 25.Qc3 b4 26.Qb3 Qc7 27.f4 h5 is equal.

25...h5 26.Be2
BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 26.Bg4e2

26...Ra2!

• Black is stronger on the queenside, so that is where he shall play. First, he prevents White from advaning the b-pawn, which slow Black's own pawn advances.

27.g4

• 27.f5 Bxf5 28.Bxh5 Be4 29.Rf1 f5 30.exf6 Bxf6 31.Ng4 Qe7 Black continues to lead in space.

27...Be4 28.f5 Nf8 29.Rf1

• White now leads in the space race.

29...Ba3!

• This wins the b-pawn.

30.Qe1 Rxb2 31.gxh5 Bb4

• After 31...Bxf5 32.Bg4 Bxg4 33.Nxg4 Bb4 34.Qg3 Kh8 Black again has the advantage in space and an extra pawn.

32.Qf2 Qxf5 33.Qg3 Rb1

• 33...Qe6 34.Bg4 Qe7 35.Bf3 Bxf3 36.Nxf3 Rb3 37.h6 Ne6 gives Black a considerable lead in space and he retains his pawn.

34.Ng4

• After 34.Rxb1 Bxb1 35.Ng4 Kh7 36.h6 g6 37.Nf6+ Kh8 38.Bg5 Ne6 Black is winning, period.

34...Rxf1+ 35.Bxf1 Kh7 36.h6

• 36.Be2 Nd7 37.Nf2 Qe6 38.Nxe4 dxe4 39.Bg4 Qd5 40.Bf5+ gives White the advantage in space, but Black still has an extra pawn.

36...Ng6 37.hxg7 Kxg7 38.Be2

• If 38.Nf6 Qf3 39.Qxf3 Bxf3 40.Kf2 Bd1 41.Ne8+ then:
• 41...Kg8 42.Nf6+ Kh8 43.Bd3 Bc3 44.Bxg6 fxg6 45.e6 Bb4 is equal and drawish so long as Black cannot take advantage of his extra pawn.
• 41...Kh8 42.Bd3 Nh4 43.Nd6 Kg7 44.Nc8 Bc3 45.Ne7 b4 gives Black the advantage of the passed pawn.

38...Be7

• Also good is 38...Qh5 39.Kh2 Be7 40.Bd2 Bf5 41.Qg2 Qh4.

39.Nh6 Qd7 40.Qf2?

• Although Black is still a pawn up with a huge advantage in space, it's still a game after 40.Ng4 Kg8 41.h4 Kh7 42.Nf6+ Bxf6 43.exf6 Qf5 44.Bg5.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 40.Qg3f2

40...Bh4

• White is forced to relocate his Queen to a less satisfactory square. This move highlights Black's cominace of space on the kingside

41.Qf1 b4

• Passed pawns must be pushed.

42.Bg4 Qe7 43.Nf5+

• If 43.Qc1 b3 44.Nf5+ Bxf5 45.Bh6+ Kg8 46.Bxf5 then:
• 46...c5 47.Qxc5 Qxc5 48.dxc5 Nxe5 49.Kf1 b2 leaves Black with an extra pawn, which at this stage is a great advantage.
• After 46...Nxe5 47.dxe5 Qxe5 48.Qf4 Qxf4 49.Bxf4 c5 the pawns come rolling home.

43...Bxf5 44.Qxf5

• After 44.Bxf5 c5 45.Qg2 cxd4 46.Bxd4 b3 47.Bxg6 fxg6 48.Qxd5 Qg5+ Black will box the White King into a corner with a series of checks.

44...b3 45.Qh5 Qb4 46.Qh6+ Kg8 47.e6

• 47.Bd2 Qxd4+ 48.Qe3 Qxe3+ 49.Bxe3 b2 50.Bf5 Nxe5 leaves Black up by three pawns.

47...Qe1+ 48.Kg2 Qg3+ 49.Kf1 b2

• If White could see the board, he'd probably resign.

50.exf7+ Kxf7 51.Qh7+ Kf6 52.Qb7 Qxe3 53.Qxc6+ Kg5 0-1

• Mate cannot be averted.
• Magnus resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Morozevich - Topalov, Amber Blind, Round 2

Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich - Veselin Topalov
Melody Amber Tournament, Blindfold Competition, Round 2
Nice, 16 March 2008

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Harrwitz Opening (Exchange Variation)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6

• If 6...Bf5 7.g4 Be6 8.h4 Nd7 9.h5 then:
• If 9...Qb6 10.Rb1 Ngf6 11.f3 h6 12.Bd3 c5 13.Nge2 Rc8 then:
• 14.Kf1 0-0 15.g5 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Rfe8 17.Qe1 cxd4 18.exd4 Nh7 19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Qg3 gives White the advantage in space (Knaak-Geller, Moscow, 1982).
• 14.Kf2 cxd4 15.exd4 a6 16.Rc1 Qd8 17.Qb3 b5 18.a4 0-0 19.axb5 Nc5 20.Qd1 Nxd3+ 21.Qxd3 axb5 22.Nxb5 Qd7 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Ra1 gives White more space and an extra pawn (Knaak-Balashov, Sochi, 1980).
• 9...Nh6 10.Be2 Nb6 11.Nh3 g5 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.f3 Bh4+ 14.Nf2 g5 15.Bh2 Qe7 16.e4 dxe4 17.fxe4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Nxg4 19.Bg3 Nxf2 20.Bxf2 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Rxh1 22.Qxh1 Qf6+ 23.Ke1 Bxc4(Turov-Vaganian, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• If 6...Nf6 7.Nf3 Nbd7 then:
• If 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Qc2 Re8 10.h3 Nf8 then:
• If 11.0-0-0 Be6 then:
• If 12.g4 Qa5 13.Kb1 Rac8 then:
• 14.Nd2 N6d7 15.Bg3 a6 16.f4 f6 17.f5 Bf7 18.Rhe1 b5 19.Nb3 Qd8 20.e4 dxe4 21.Bxe4 gives White a huge advatage in space (Kharlov-Rustemov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
• 14.Bf5 Red8 15.Rhg1 b6 16.g5 Ne8 17.Be5 (White has a substantial advantage in space) 17...c5! then:
• 18.Bxe6?! fxe6 19.Nh4 Nd6 20.Bf6 Rd7 21.Nf3 Nc4 22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 c4 is equal (Aizenshtadt-Korchnoi, Leningrad, 1950).
• Better is 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.e4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 when White maintains his advantage.
• If 12.Kb1 a5 13.Ng5 b5 14.Be5 h6 then:
• 15.Nxe6!? Nxe6 16.g4 a4 17.Bf5! Nd7 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Ng3 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Korchnoi-Elson, IT, Biel, 1984).
• 15.Nf3 N8d7 16.Bg3 Rc8 17.Bh4 b4 18.Na4 Ne4 is even.
• 11.0-0 Ng6 12.Bh2 Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rab1 Qe7 15.b4 a6 16.a4 Ne4 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 Ra3 19.Ne2 Bf5 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Ra1 Rxd3 22.Qxd3 Ng3 23.Qd2 Nxf1 24.Kxf1 Qf6 gives Black the advantage space (Timoshchenko-Pokorna, Slovak ChT, Slovakia, 2001).
• 8.h3 Nf8 9.Bd3 Ng6 10.Bh2 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Qc2 0-0 13.0-0-0 Re8 14.Kb1 Be6 15.Ng5 Bd7 16.g4 Re7 17.Nf3 Rae8 is equal (Portisch-Andersson, Reggio Emilia, 1986).

7.Nge2

• If 7.Bg3 Ne7 8.Nf3 0-0 then:
• 9.Be2 Re8 10.0-0 a5 11.Rc1 Nf5 12.Qb3 Bxg3 13.hxg3 Nd6 14.Na4 Bg4 15.Rfe1 Nd7 16.Nc5 Rb8 17.Bf1 h5 gives White a small advantage in space (Vasilevich-Mkrtchian, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2001).
• 9.Qb3 Bc7 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Bh4 Re8 12.e4 Nf8 13.e5 f6 14.0-0 Neg6 15.Bg3 fxe5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 gives Black an extra pawn and White a small advantage in space (Kovalevskaya-Mkrtchian, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

7...Ne7

• 7...Nf6 8.h3 0-0 9.g4 Re8 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Ng3 Be6 12.Qc2 a5 13.Bd3 Na6 14.a3 g6 15.Nce2 Rac8 gives White more play while space is slightly in Black's favor (Grischuk-Kasimdzhanov, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004)

8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Ng3 0-0 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Qc2 Nf6 12.0-0-0!?

• 12.0-0 h6 13.Rab1 draw (Hjartarson-Short, World Cup, Rotterdam, 1989).

12...Bd7 13.Kb1 c5

• If 13...Rfe8 14.e4 Nxe4 15.Ncxe4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 then:
• 16...Qh6 17.Qc1 Qg6 18.Qg5 Qxg5 19.Nxg5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 16...Qc7 17.Rhe1 Rad8 18.h3 Nd5 19.Nc3 Nxc3+ 20.bxc3 gives White a small edge in space

14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.e4 d4?!

• The pawn is too weak to be maintained. It is better to exchange it.
• 15...dxe4 16.Ngxe4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Qxc2+ 18.Kxc2 Rac8+ 19.Kb1 is equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 15...d5d4

16.Nce2!

• This is a well-played double attack. Black cannot proted the pawn at d4 and save his Queen at the same time.

16...Qb6 17.Nxd4 Ng4

• Black will not be able to win back the pawn.
• If 17...Rfc8 18.Qe2 then:
• After 18...Ba4 19.Nc2 Rc5 20.Rc1 Ng6 21.Na3 Nf4 22.Qf3 Nxd3 23.Qxd3 White retain the pawnl.
• 18...Rc7 19.Bb5 Rac8 20.Bxd7 Nxd7 21.Ndf5 Nxf5 22.Nxf5 gives White a slight advatage in space and the extra pawn.
• White retains the pawn after 17...Qxd4 18.Bb5 Qb4 19.Bxd7 Nxd7 20.Rxd7 Nc6 21.Qd2 Qxd2 22.Rxd2.

18.h3 Rac8 19.Qe2

• With correct play, White should be able to maintain his superiority, but position is hazardous
• If 19.Qd2 Ne5 20.Qe3 Rfd8 21.Be2 then:
• 21...Ba4 22.b3 Bd7 23.Ndf5 Bxf5 24.Nxf5 Qc7 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Nxe7+ Qxe7 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 21...Qb4 22.Nb3 Nc4 23.Qd4 then:
• If 23...a6 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 25.Qd6 Qxd6 26.Rxd6 Rc6 27.Rd4 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 23...Ng6 24.Nf5 Bxf5 25.Qxd8+ Rxd8 26.Rxd8+ Nf8 27.exf5 Qe7 then:
• After 28.Bxc4 Qxd8 29.Rc1 Qg5 Black wins a pawn, yielding a theoretical asymmetical material edge.
• After 28.Rxf8+ Kxf8 29.Bxc4 Qe4+ Black recovers the Bishop with the better game featuring an asymmetrical material balance.

19...Ne5 20.Bc2 N7g6

• As White is a pawn to the good, exchanges would to to his benefit.
• 20...Rc7 21.Bb3 Rfc8 22.Rhe1 Rc5 23.Qe3 Qc7 24.Rc1 invites a liquidation of all heavy pieces.

21.Bb3 a5 22.Ngf5 a4

• 22...Rc5 23.g3 a4 24.Bd5 Rfc8 25.Rc1! Bxf5 26.Nxf5! forces the exchange of Rooks.

23.Bd5 a3 24.b3 Nf4?

• After 24...Rc5 25.Qe3 Qf6 26.Ng3 b6 27.Nh5 Qh4 28.g4 the space count is approximately even, but White maintains the pawn plus.

25.Ne7+

• This wins the exchange, but White needn't take it right away.

25...Kh8
BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 25...Kg8h8

26.Qe3!

• Instead of the exhange, White goes for a piece.

26...Nxg2

• After 26...Rce8 27.Qxf4 Rxe7 28.Rd2 Rc8 29.Rhd1 Rc3 30.Rc2 Rxc2 31.Nxc2 White cintinues to enjoy a minute advantage in space and an extra pawn.

27.Nxc8 Rxc8 28.Qg3!

• White is already an exchange to the good, but now he wins a whole piece.

28...Qc5

• 28...Qf6 29.Qxg2 Rc3 30.Rd2 b6 31.Rc1 Qh6 32.Rdc2 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 leaves White a Rook to the good.

29.Qxe5 Qc3 30.Nc6 Qf3 31.Nb4 Nf4 32.Rhg1 f6 33.Qe7 Bg4 34.Rc1 1-0

• Topalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Happy birthday to the Grand Old Man of Chess

Born March 23, 1931

Please click here.

[Lithos]

13. Cute

Shows he has a good sense of humor.

L-