The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (August 10): Wang, Chepa lead Sochi; She plays with the boys and Hou!

[Jack Rabbit]

Wang and Cheparinov lead FIDE Grand Prix II



Bulgarian grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov and Wang Yue of China lead the second leg of the FIDE Grand Prix after nine rounds in Sochi, a resort on the Black Sea in Russia.

Cheparinov has been in or near the lead since the start. He has 3 victories, one loss and 5 draws for 5½ points. Wang started by drawing seven consectutive game, but has won his last two, defeating Israeli GM Boris Gelfand on Friday and Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan yesterday. Radjabov shared the lead with Cheparinov going into yesterday's action.

Five competitors are a half-point back with 5 points and three more are still in contention with 4½ points. Decisive game have been rare in Sochi. Dmitry Jakovenko is one of those still in the hunt for first prize, yet he has neither won nor lost a game thus far.

Today is a rest day. Round 10 will be played tomorrow. The 13-round tournament ends Thursday.


Hou plays with the boys in Gaziantep; trails by only a half



Grandmaster Li Chao of China and IM Arik Braun of Germany lead the World Junior Championship in Gaziantep, Turkey, after eight rounds with 6½ points apiece.

Five players are tied for third place with 6 points each in what is often mislabeled the "boys'" competition, including the 14-year-old girl from China, Hou Yifan. The young lady from Nanjing, were she playing in the girls' competition, would outrank the next seed by almost 100 Elo points.

Ms. Hou, whose current title is women's grandmaster (WGM), needs only a draw in the ninth round to secure her second norm toward a full grandmaster's title.

In the girls' competition, IM Dronavalli Harika, the top seed, leads with 7 points, a half point ahead of Ukrainian WGM Mariya Muyichuk, the younger sister of IM Anna Muzychuk.

The World Junior Championships conclude Friday after 13 rounds.


Staunton Memorial begins in London at Simpson's Divan



The sixth annual Howard Stautnon tournament began Thursday in historic Simpson's Divan in London.

After three rounds, British grandmaster Mickey Adams and Dutch chess legend Jan Timman lead with 2½ points each.

Of interest in this edition of the Staunton Memorial is the participation of 87-year-old IM Robert Wade of New Zealand. Mr. Wade is the author of many chess books, including (with Kevin O'Connell) The Complete Games of Bobby Fischer, and has an important variation of the Meran Defense named for him. In his long career, Mr. Wade has scored victories over Ratmir Kholmov, Pal Benko, Wolfgang Uhlmann and Viktor Korchnoi.

The event is scheduled for 11 rounds and concludes Monday, August 18.


Calendar

Tal Memorial Tournanment, Moscow 18-28 August. Single round robin, nine rounds: Vladimir Kramnik, Vassily Ivanchuk, Gata Kamsky, Boris Gelfand, Alexei Shirov, Alexander Morozevich, Ruslan Ponomariov, Peter Leko, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Evgeny Alekseev.

Dato' Arthur Tan Open, Kuala Lampur 18-24 August.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (World Women's Chess Championship), Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) 28 August-18 September.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-13 September.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match, Bonn October 14-November 2. Twelve rounds.

European Club Cup, Kallithea (Greece) 16-24 October.

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Current Events

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

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. Radjabov - Cheparinov, Sochi

Teimour Radjabov
Photo: Wikipedia Commons


Teimour Radjabov - Ivan Cheparinov
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 5
Sochi, 4 August 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Moscow Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.h4 g4 11.Nxg4

• Up to this move, the game followed Grischuk-Karjakin from the first round.
• If 11.Be2 h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 then:
• If 15.Rad1 0-0 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 then:
• 17...c5 18.dxc5 Qe7 19.Kh1 a6 20.a4 Bc6 21.Nd5 exd5 22.exd5 Be5 23.f4 Bg7 24.dxc6 Nxc5 25.Rd5 Ne4 gives Black more activity (Aronian-Anand, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 21...exd5 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rae8 24.Rf5 f6 25.Qd1 Nf7 26.e5 Nh6 27.Rh5 Qe6 28.Rd6 is equal (Avrukh-Novikov, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 17...Qb6 18.Kh1 c5 19.d5 Ne5 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.Qc1 then:
• 21...Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Ne2 exd5 25.exd5 Rae8 26.Rd2 Bh6 27.Bf4 is equal (van Wely-Kobalia, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 15.b3 cxb3 16.axb3 0-0 17.Bg3 c5 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxb5 is equal (Grischuk-Karjakin, FIDE Grand Prix (Rd 1), Sochi, 2008).

11...Nbd7

• 11...Nxg4 12.Qxg4 Qxd4 13.Rd1 Qg7 14.Qf4 Na6 15.a4 Bb4 16.Be2 0-0 17.0-0 Nc5 gives Black an extra pawn and more activity (Sasikiran-Stefanova, IT, Zafra, 2007).

12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Be2!?

• 13.Qd2 Rg8 14.0-0-0 Nb6 15.Qe3 b4 16.e5 Qf5 17.Ne4 0-0-0 18.Be2 c5 19.dxc5 Qxe4 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Qxe4 Bxe4 22.cxb6 axb6 23.Rd1+ Kc8 24.Rd4 gives White a strong game (Bocharov-Vitiugov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

13...0-0-0

• 13...Bb4 14.e5 Qg7 15.Bf3 Rb8 16.Qc2 c5 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Qe4 gives White more activity.

14.e5 Qf5

• 14...Qg7 15.Qc2 a6 16.Bf3 c5 17.Bxb7+ Kxb7 18.Qe4+ gives White the advantage in space.

15.a4 b4?!

• 15...a6 16.Bg4 Qd3 17.Qxd3 cxd3 18.axb5 cxb5 19.Kd2 b4 is equal.

16.Bxc4!

• White has won a pawn.

16...Nc5

• If 16...bxc3? White wins after 17.Bd3 cxb2 18.Rb1 Bb4+ 19.Kf1 Qxd3+ 20.Qxd3.

17.Ne2 Rg8

• After 17...h5 18.Bf4 Rg8 19.Rh2 Rg4 20.g3 Qe4 21.Rc1 White retains a one-pawn advantage.

18.0-0

• After 18.a5 h5 19.Rc1 Bh6 20.Rc2 a6 21.0-0 White still has an extra pawn.

18...Be7

• White remains a pawn to the good after 18...Kb8 19.a5 a6 20.Rc1 Be7 21.f3 Qg6 22.Kf2.

19.Qc1 Ne4 20.Ba6

• 20.Qxh6?! c5 21.Rac1 Kb8 22.Qf4 Qxf4 23.Nxf4 Rxd4 is unclear: White has an extra pawn and Black more space.

20...Kb8

• 20...c5 21.Qc4 Nd2 22.Bxb7+ Kxb7 23.Qb5+ Ka8 24.Qc6+ gives White the active position.

21.Bxb7 Kxb7 22.a5 Rc8

• 22...Nxg3 23.fxg3 Qg6 24.Qc4 Rg7 25.a6+ Kc7 26.Rac1 is a position from which White should win.

23.a6+ Kb8 24.Qxh6

• If 24.Qe3 c5 25.Ra5 Ka8 26.Rb5 then:
• 26...Qh7 27.h5 Rgd8 28.Bf4 cxd4 29.Nxd4 White remains a pawn to the good.
• If 26...Rg4 27.Rc1 then:
• 27...Bxh4 28.Bxh4 Rxh4 29.f3 Qg5 30.Qxg5 Nxg5 31.Rbxc5 White is winning.
• 27...Rcg8 28.Qf3 Qxf3 29.gxf3 Nxg3 30.fxg3 R4g7 31.Kf2 White has an extra pawn and an active position.

24...Ng5 25.d5

• 25.hxg5?! Rh8 26.Bf4 Rxh6 27.gxh6 Rg8 28.f3 Bg5 is equal.

25...Rg6

• If 25...Rh8 26.Nd4 then:
• 26...Rxh6 27.Nxf5 exf5 28.hxg5 Bxg5 29.f4 Bd8 30.d6 gives White an extra pawn and an advanced passer.
• If 26...Qg4 27.Nxc6+ Ka8 28.Qxh8!! then:
• 28...Rxh8 29.d6 Bd8 30.Nxd8 Rxd8 31.hxg5 Qxg5 32.Rfd1 gives White a modest material advatage.
• Also good is 29.Nxe7 Ne4 30.Rad1 exd5 31.Nxd5 Nxg3 32.fxg3 Qxg3 again leafing White with more than enough material to compensate for the Queen.

BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov
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WHITE: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 25...Rg8g6

26.Qxg6!?

• White sacrifices his Queen knowing he will emerge with a passed pawn.

26...Qxg6 27.d6 Bd8 28.hxg5

• White has an advantage of an advanced passer, but the Black Queen is free and can create counterplay.

28...Bb6

• 28...Bxg5 29.Nd4 c5 30.Nf3 Bh6 31.Rfd1 is equal.

29.Rfd1 Qxg5 30.Rac1

• 30.Nd4 Ka8 31.Kf1 Rh8 32.Nf3 Qg4 33.b3 Rh1+ is equal.

30...Qg4 31.d7 Rd8

• If 31...Rh8 32.Rxc6 Qxe2 33.Rdc1 Qxa6 then:
• 34.Rc8+ Qxc8 35.dxc8Q+ Rxc8 36.Rxc8+ Kxc8 is slightly better for Black.
• 34.Bh4 Qd3 35.Rc8+ Kb7 36.Rxh8 Qxd7 is much better for Black.

32.Kf1 Kc7 33.Rd6 Rxd7?

• Black blunders away material.
• 33...c5 34.Rcd1 b3 35.Nf4 Kb8 36.Rc1 Qf5 remains equal.

BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov
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WHITE: Teimour Radjabov
Position after 33...Rd8d7:p

34.Rcxc6+!

• Lights out!

34...Kd8 35.f3 Qh5 36.Rxb6 Qh1+

• If 36...axb6 then:
• If 37.a7! Qh1+ 38.Ng1 and the a-pawn queens.
• If 37.Rxd7+?? then 37...Kxd7! 38.a7 Qh1+ 39.Ng1 Qh8 and Black wins.

37.Ng1 Rxd6 38.exd6 1-0

• White has an asymmetrical material advantagw equivelant to two pawns.
• After 38...Qh7 39.Rb8+ Kd7 40.Rb7+ Kc6 41.d7 Qd3+ 42.Ne2 White wins.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Gashimov - Navara, Sochi

Vugar Gashimov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vugar Gashimov - David Navara
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 6
Sochi, 6 August 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Chigorin Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5

• For an overview of this opening, see Friedal-Bacerra, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2008]/

10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Rd8 14.d5

• If 14.Nf1 exd4 15.Nxd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.f3 then:
• If 17...Bc5 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Be3 Bb7 20.e6 Nc4 21.Bb3 Nxe3 22.exf7+ Kh8 23.Nxe3 Rxd4 24.Qc2 Rd3 gives Black the advantage in space (Rimawi-Ismagambetov, Team Trmt, Macau, 2007).
• 17...Ng5 18.Ng3 g6 19.Kh2 Ne6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bh6 Bf8 22.Bg5 Be7 23.Qc1 is equal (Sax-E. Torre, Adelaide, 1986).
• If 14.b3 Nc6 15.Bb2 then:
• If 15...Bb7 16.Rc1 Qb6 then:
• 17.d5 Nb4 18.Bb1 a5 19.Qe2 Rdc8 20.a3 Na6 21.Bd3 Nc5 22.Qe3 Nfd7 23.Bf1 f5 draw (Volokitin-Bruzón, IT, Biel, 2006).
• If 17.Nf1 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Bg5 21.Qh5 Bh6 then:
• 22.Be4 Nb4 23.e6 fxe6 24.Bxg7 Bxg7 25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 27.Rxe6 is unclear: White has three pawns for a piece and more space, but Black's defense looks solid (Correles-Hungaski, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 22.Ne3 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Rd2 24.Qh4 Rxf2 25.Bd4 Rxg2+ 26.Kf1 Qa5 27.Be4 Qd2 28.Bxb7 Bxe3 White resigns in a mating attack (Grischuk-I. Smirin, Rapid, Odessa, 2007).
• If 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Be6 18.Rc1 Qa5 then:
• 19.Bb1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Rxe4 Ba3 23.Rc2 Rd7 gives Black the advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Piket, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 19.Nf1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.f3 Ba3 22.fxe4 Bxc1 23.Qxc1 Rac8 24.Re2 draw (Mason-Taylor, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).

14...Bd7 15.Nf1 Rdc8 16.Ne3

• If 16.Bd3 Nb7 then:
• 17.Ng3 Nc5 18.Bf1 a5 19.Bd2 Bd8 20.Rc1 Qb7 is equal (S. Zhigalko-Efimenko, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 17.Bd2 Nc5 18.Rc1 Qb7 19.Bb1 b4 20.Ng3 a5 is equal (Bernard-Moncamp, French ChT, Montpellier, 2001).

16...Bd8!?

• 16...Nb7 draw (Haba-Hoffmann, Datteln, 2002 ).
• 16...g6 17.a4 Nh5 18.Bd2 Nf4 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.d6 Qxd6 21.Bxa5 Qxd1 22.Raxd1 Be6 is equal (Lindblom-Nielsen, Ol, Amsterdam, 1954).

17.Nh2

• The game is equal.
• If 17.Bd2 Nc4 18.Nxc4 then:
• 18...bxc4 19.Bc3 Qc5 20.Qd2 Bb6 is equal.
• 18...Qxc4 19.Bb3 Qc7 20.Rc1 Qb6 21.Qe2 is equal.

17...Nc4 18.Bd3 Qa7 19.Neg4?!

• 19.Qf3 Ba5 20.Rd1 Bb6 21.Nf5 Bxf5 22.Qxf5 remains equal.

19...Nxg4!

• 19...Nxe4?! 20.Bxe4 f5 21.b3 Nb6 22.Ba3 Bc7 23.Bc2 fxg4 24.Nxg4 gives White the advantage in space.

20.hxg4

• 20.Nxg4 Qd4 21.Rb1 Ba5 22.Re2 Bb6 is equal.

20...Bb6 21.Qe2 Bd4 22.Rb1 a5 23.b3 Nb6 24.Bd2 b4 25.Rf1?!

• 25.Rec1 Rxc1+ 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 28.Nf1 Nd7 is equal.

25...Rc7 26.Kh1?

• 26.Rbc1 Rac8 27.g5 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 29.Bxc1 is equal.

26...Nc8 27.g3

• If 27.Qf3 then after 27...Bc3 28.Be3 Qb7 29.Rfc1 Na7 30.Rc2 Rac8 31.Rbc1 Nb5 all of Black's pieces are bringing pressure on White's queenside.

27...Bc3!

• Black has aggressive designs on the queenside.
• If 27...Ne7 28.f4 Rac8 29.Qf3 then:
• 29...Ng6 30.f5 Nf8 31.f6 g6 is equal.
• 29...Be8 30.f5 f6 31.g5 fxg5 32.Bxg5 is equal.

28.f4

• After 28.Be3 Qb7 29.Rbc1 a4 30.f4 axb3 31.axb3 Ra3 White has a serious stake in White's queenside.

28...a4!?

• Black desires to open the queenside and penetrate.
• Nevertheless, Black has not yet shut down White's possible counterplay. This really isn't possible right now.
• 28...Bd4? 29.Qf3 Be8 30.Rbc1 Nb6 31.g5 Rac8 32.Rxc7 Rxc7 is equal.
• 29...exf4 30.Qxf4 f6 31.g5 Be5 32.Qf3 Qd4 33.gxf6 Bxf6 is equal.

BLACK: David Navara
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WHITE: Vugar Gashimov
Position after 28...a5a4

29.Be3!

• White strikes back with counterplay.

29...Bd4 30.Bxd4 Qxd4 31.Nf3 Qb6

• 31...Qc3? 32.fxe5 dxe5 33.Rb2 axb3 34.axb3 Rca7 is equal.

32.fxe5!?

• White opens the f-file whith the idea of attacking Black's undefended kingside.
• 32.bxa4 exf4 33.e5 fxg3 34.Qe4 g6 35.Rxb4 Qa5 is equal.

32...Bxg4?!

• Black misses his chance to continue the queenside assault.
• 32...axb3! 33.axb3 Bxg4 34.exd6 Nxd6 35.e5 Nf5 36.Bxf5 Bxf5 opens lines for Black to keep sniping at White's queenside.

33.exd6 Nxd6
BLACK: David Navara
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WHITE: Vugar Gashimov
Position after 33...Nc8d6:p

34.e5!

• In spite of the inaccuracy, Black is still better and White cannot afford to let things get worse.
• If 34.bxa4 then Black has a very strong game after 34...Rxa4 35.e5 Nf5 36.Bxf5 Bxf5 37.Rb2 Rc3.

34...Nf5 35.Bxf5 Bxf5 36.Rbd1

• 36.d6? Rc2 37.Nd2 Bd7 38.bxa4 Rxa4 39.a3 Bb5! skewers a Rook.
• If 36.Rb2 then Black is winning after 36...axb3 37.axb3 Rc3 38.Ra2 Rxa2 39.Qxa2 Qd8.

36...axb3 37.axb3 Rc2 38.Rd2 Raa2 39.Rfd1 Rxd2

• Somewhat better is 39...Qc5 40.Ne1 Rxd2 41.Rxd2 Rxd2 42.Qxd2 Be4+.

40.Rxd2 Ra1+ 41.Kg2 Qh6 42.e6

• 42.Rd4 Bh3+ 43.Kf2 Qg6 44.Rxb4 h6 45.Qe4 Ra2+ 46.Ke3 Bf5! gives Black an excellent game for the pawn.

42...fxe6?

• After 42...Bh3+! 43.Kf2 Rf1+ 44.Qxf1 Bxf1 45.Kxf1 Qe3 46.Kg2 g5 Black is winning.

43.dxe6 Bxe6 44.Rd8+!

• White has assumed the advantage.

44...Kf7 45.Ne5+ Ke7 46.Nc6+ Kf7 47.Qf3+ Qf6
BLACK: David Navara
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WHITE: Vugar Gashimov
Position after 47...Qh6f6

48.Qh5+!

• Exchanging Queens would bring Black' remaining pieces to life.
• 48.Qxf6+? gxf6 49.Nxb4 Bxb3 puts Black a pawn to the good.

48...g6 49.Qxh7+ Qg7 50.Ne5+ Kf6 51.Qh4+ g5

• 51...Kxe5 52.Qf4#.

52.Qd4 Bh3+

• 52...Ra2+ 53.Kf1 Bh3+ 54.Ke1 Qe7 55.Kd1 Ra1+ 56.Kd2 Ra2+ 57.Kc1 Kf5 58.Rd5 groups White's pieces in the center for maximum flexibility.

53.Kf3 Rf1+ 54.Ke2 Qe7

• If 54...Rc1 55.Ng4+ Kg6 56.Rd6+ then:
• 56...Kh5 57.Qxg7 Kxg4 58.Qd7+ Kxg3 59.Rd3+ Kf4 60.Qd6+ Kf5 61.Rf3+ Ke4 62.Re3+ Kf5 63.Qe6+ Kf4 64.Rf3#.
• 56...Kh7 57.Qe4+ Kh8 58.Qe8+ Kh7 59.Qh5+ Kg8 60.Rd8+ Qf8 61.Qg6+ White delivers mate on the next move.

55.Rf8+ Ke6

• If 55...Qxf8 then 56.Nd7+.

56.Rh8 Bg2 57.Qe3 Kf5 58.g4+ Kf6 59.Rf8+

• The text is better than 59.Rh6+ Kg7 60.Rg6+ Kf8 61.Rxg5 Qd6 62.Qd3.

59...Qxf8 60.Nd7+ Kg6

• If 60...Kg7 then the Queen falls to 61.Qxg5+.

61.Nxf8+ Rxf8 62.Qe6+ Rf6 63.Qg8+ Kh6 64.Qh8+ Kg6 65.Qh5+ Kg7 66.Qxg5+ Kf7

• If 66...Rg6 then 67.Qe7+ Kh6 68.Qxb4 frees the b-pawn for use in the winning process.

67.Kd3 Rg6 68.Qf5+ Kg7 69.Qe5+ Kf7 70.Qf4+ 1-0

• 70...Rf6 71.Qc4+ Ke8 72.Qxb4 Rf3+ 73.Ke2 Rf7 74.g5 White wins advancing the g-pawn.
• Grandmaster Navara resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. al-Modiahki - Aronian, Sochi

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Mohamad al-Modiahki - Levon Aronian
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 6
Sochi, 6 August 2008

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Berlin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.Re1

• Alternate lines stem from 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 then:
• If 6...dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 then:
• 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 Be7 11.Bg5 Bxg5 12.Nxg5 h6 13.Nge4 b6 14.Rfd1 Ke7 15.Kh2 h5 16.Ne2 Re8 17.Nf4 Kf8 18.Nxh5 Rxe5 19.Nhg3 Be6 20.Rd2 draw (Anand-Kramnik, Rapid IT, León, 2002).
• 9...Ne7 10.h3 h6 11.Be3 Ng6 12.Rad1+ Ke8 13.a3 Be7 14.Rfe1 Nh4 15.Nxh4 Bxh4 16.Ne2 h5 17.Nd4 a6 18.e6 Bf6 19.Bf4 c5 20.Nb3 c4 21.Nc5 fxe6 22.Bxc7 Kf7 23.b3 cxb3 24.cxb3 Bb2 25.Na4 Black resigns (Cheparinov-Hermansson, IT, Malmø, 2007).
• If 6...bxc6?! 7.dxe5 then:
• 7...Nb7 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Nd4 0-0 10.Qf3 Re8 11.Qg3 Bh4 12.Qf4 d6 13.exd6 Nxd6 14.Nxc6 Qd7 15.Ne5 Rxe5 16.Qxe5 Bb7 17.Qf4 g5 18.Qd4 c5 19.Qd3 c4 20.Qd4 Qc6 21.f3 Nf5 22.Qe5 Nd6 23.Bxg5 Re8 24.Qa5 Black resigns (Hübner-Rossolimo, IT, Skopje, 1972).
• 8.Qe2 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Re1 Nc5 11.Nd4 Ne6 12.Be3 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 c5 14.Be3 d5 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Rad1 Qf6 19.c4 Rfe8 is equal (Dr. Tarrasch-Dr. Lasker, World Ch, Munich, 1908).

5...Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1

• If 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Nc3 Nxe5 9.Rxe5 c6 10.b3 then:
• If 10...Ne8 11.Bb2 d5 then:
• If 12.Qf3 Bf6 13.Re2 Nc7 then:
• 14.Na4 Bxb2 15.Nxb2 Qd6 16.Rae1 Bd7 17.Bf5 Rae8 18.Bxd7 draw (Hracek-Shirov, Bundesliga, Luebeck, 2001).
• 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Rae1 Rxe2 16.Nxe2 Ne6 17.Ng3 g6 18.Bd6 Ng7 19.Bc7 Qxc7 20.Qxf6 Be6 21.h4 h5 22.a4 Re8 23.Re3 Bg4 24.Qd4 Rxe3 25.dxe3 b6 26.c4 Ne6 27.Qf6 Nc5 28.Bc2 dxc4 29.bxc4 Nd7 draw (Keres-Lengyel, IT, Beverwijk, 1964).
• 12.Qh5 Nf6 13.Qh4 Be6 14.Rg5 g6 15.Qh6 d4 16.Ne2 Ng4 17.Rxg4 Bxg4 18.Bxd4 Bf6 leaves Black an exchange to the good (Hakki-Kapnisis, Mediterranean Ch, Beirut, 2003).
• 10...Re8 11.Ba3 Bf8 12.Re3 Rxe3 13.fxe3 Ne4 14.Bxf8 Nxc3 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qe5 Qxf8 17.Qxc3 Qg7 18.Qxg7+ Kxg7 19.e4 d6 20.Re1 Bd7 21.Kf2 Kg8 draw (Steinitz-Zukertort, World Ch, New Orleans, 1886).

7...Nf5

• If 7...Nxe5 8.Rxe5 0-0 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 11.c3 d5 12.Bf4 then:
• If 12...c6 13.Nd2 Nh4 14.Bg3 Bf5 15.Nb3 then:
• I15...b6 16.Bd3 Qd7 17.Bxh4 Bxh4 18.Qc2 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Rfe8 20.Nd2 Bf6 21.g3 g6 22.Nf3 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal (Ivanchuk-K. Georgiev, Euro ChT, Izmir, 2004).
• 16.Nc1 Qd7 17.Nd3 Ng6 18.a4 Rfe8 19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.a5 b5 21.a6 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Bh4 23.b3 Bxg3 24.hxg3 Nf8 is slightly better for Black objectively speaking, but equal as a practical matter (Kasimdzhanov-Kramnik, World Blitz Ch, Moscow, 2007).
• 12...Nh4 13.Bd3 Ng6 14.Qh5 Be6 15.Nd2 Qd7 16.h3 Rfe8 17.Bg3 Qc6 18.Nf3 Qb6 19.Rab1 Bd7 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Qxd5 Be6 22.Qb5 Qxb5 23.Bxb5 c6 24.Bd3 Bd5 25.a3 Bxf3 26.gxf3 Nh4 27.Be4 gives White an extra pawn (Sprenger-Petersen, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).

8.c3 0-0 9.d4 Nxe5

• 9...d5 10.Qd3 Re8 11.f4 Nd6 12.Re3 Na5 13.Nd2 Nf5 14.Rh3 Nh4 15.g4 Ng6 16.Rh5 Nc6 17.Ndc4 dxc4 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Bxc4+ Kf8 21.Rh8# White wins (Fox-Bauer, IT, Antwerp, 1901).

10.Rxe5 g6!?

• 10...d6 11.Re1 d5 12.Bf4 Nh4 13.Nd2 Bf5 14.Nf3 Ng6 draw (Andriasian-Pashikian, Sevan, 2006).

11.Nd2 d5 12.Nf3 c6 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bd2 Ng7 16.Bd3 Be6 17.Bh6 Qd7 18.Nh4

• If 18.Qd2 Rfe8 19.Bf4 Bg4 then:
• 20.Bxd6 Qxd6 21.Be2 Re6 22.h3 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Rae8 is equal.
• 20.Be2 Re6 21.h3 Bf5 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 is equal.

18...Rae8 19.Qc2 Bf7 20.g3 b6 21.a4 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 c5 23.Qd1 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 25.Ng2 cxd4

• 25...c4 26.Bc2 a6 27.Qf3 Qe6 28.Bd2 Ne8 remains equal.

26.cxd4 Ne6 27.Bb5 Qd8?!
BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Mohamad al-Modiahki
Position after 27...Qe8d8

• If 27...Qa8 28.Ne3 f5 29.Bf1 Qd8 then:
• 30.Nxd5 Bf8 31.Bxf8 Qxd5 32.Bh6 remains equal.
• 30.Bg2 Qf6 31.Qc2 Qxd4 32.Qc6 Bf8 33.Bxf8 Nxf8 leaves Balck a pawn to the good.

28.Ne3?!

• If 28.Bc6! Nc7 29.Qf3 f5 30.Ne3 Qf6 31.Bxd5 then:
• 31...Nxd5 32.Nxd5 Qd8 33.Ne3 gives White an extra pawn.
• 31...Qxd4 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 33.Qc6 Be5 34.b3

28...f5 29.Bc6 Qf6 30.Nxd5

• 30.f4 Qxd4 31.Qxd4 Nxd4 32.Bxd5 Bxd5 33.Nxd5 Nf3+ 34.Kh1 Kf7 gives Black more mobility; White's Bishop is virtually entombed.

30...Qxd4 31.Qxd4 Nxd4 32.Nf6+

• 32.Bb7 Nf3+ 33.Kh1 Ne1 34.Bf4 Bxf4 35.Nxf4 g5 gives Black an advantage on the kigside, but it doesn't look like enough to win.

32...Kh8 33.Bd5 Bxd5

• If 33...Ne6 34.b3 Nd8 then:
• 35.Bc1 Kg7 36.Bxf7 Nxf7 37.Nd7 Nd8 remains equal.
• 35.Kf1? Be5 36.Bg5 h6! Black must in a piece.

34.Nxd5 Nb3 35.Nc3

• If 35.Be3 Be5 36.Nc3 Bxc3 37.bxc3 Na5 then:
• 38.Kf1 Nc4 39.Ke2 a6 40.Kd3 Nb2+ 41.Kc2 is equal.
• 38.h3 Nc4 39.Kf1 Nb2 40.a5 bxa5 41.Bc1 Nc4 gives Black an extra pawn.

35...Be5 36.Be3

• If 36.Kf1 Bxc3 37.bxc3 Nc5 38.a5 bxa5 then:
• 39.c4 a4 40.Bf8 Nd7 41.Ba3 Kg7 42.Ke2 Kf6 43.f4 Ke6 gives Black more mobility with his Knight, but less with his King.
• 39.Ke2 a4 40.Bc1 Kg7 41.Ba3 Ne4 42.c4 Kf7 gives Black plenty of time to stop the c-pawn.

36...Kg7!?

• 36...Bxc3 37.bxc3 Na5 38.Kf1 Nc4 39.Ke2 a6 40.Bc1 remains equal.

37.Kf1 Kf6 38.Ke2

• After 38.Nb5 a6 39.Nc3 Bxc3 40.bxc3 b5 41.axb5 axb5 42.f3 Na5 the relative position of the Kings to the center gives the advantage to Black.

39.f3?!

• This move is too passive. The energetic 39.f4 is the move that meets the demands of the position.
• 39.f4 gxf4 40.gxf4 Bxc3 41.bxc3 Ke6 42.Kd3 Kd5 gives Black too small of an advantage to mean much.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
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WHITE: Mohamad al-Modiahki
Position after 39.f2f3

39...f4!

• Black fixes White's pawn at f3.

40.gxf4 gxf4 41.Bf2 Bd4

• The Bishops do neither side any good now. An exchange would be mutally beneficial, but Black's Knight is better than White's.

42.Nb5?

• White misses his last chance to equalize.
• 42.Ne4+? Ke5 43.Bh4 Kf5 44.Nd6+ Ke6 45.Nb5 Bxb2 gives Black an extra pawn.
• Correct is 42.Bxd4+! Nxd4+ 43.Kf2 Nc2 44.Nd5+ Ke5 45.Ne7 a6 46.Ke2 Nd4+ 47.Kf2 Kd6 with equality.

42...Bxf2!

• 42...Bxb2 43.Nxa7 Nd4+ 44.Bxd4+ Bxd4 45.Kd3 is equal.

43.Kxf2 a5 44.Nc7 Ke5

• 44...Nc5 45.Nd5+ Ke5 46.Nxb6 Nd3+ 47.Kg2 Nxb2 gives Balck a strong advantage.

45.Na8 Nc5 46.Nxb6 Nd3+ 47.Ke2

• 47.Kg2 Nxb2 48.Kh3 Kd6 49.Kg4 Kc6 50.Nc8 Nxa4 gives Black the advantage in that it takes fewer moves to promote the a-pawn than the f-pawn.

47...Nxb2 48.h4 Kd6 49.h5 Kc6 50.Nc8 Nxa4 51.Ne7+

• If 51.Kd3 Nb6 52.Ne7+ Kc5 53.h6 Nc4 then:
• 54.Kc2 Ne5 55.Kc3 a4 56.Kb2 Kd4 57.Ka3 Nxf3 58.Kxa4 Nh4 Black wins easily.
• 54.Ke2 a4 55.Kd3 a3 ties up White to defending the march of the a-pawn.

51...Kc5 52.Ng6 Nc3+ 53.Kd3 Nd5 54.Nf8 a4

• If 54...h6 then Black wins after 55.Ne6+ Kd6 56.Nd8 a4 57.Kc4 Ne3+ 58.Kb4 Ng4!!.

55.Nxh7 a3 56.Kc2 Kc4 57.Ng5 Ne3+ 58.Kc1 Kb3 59.Ne4

• If 59.Ne6 Black wins after 59...a2 60.Nd4+ Kc4 61.Kb2 Kxd4 62.Kxa2 Nf5.

59...a2 60.Nd2+ Ka3 61.Nb1+ Kb4 62.Kb2 axb1Q+ 63.Kxb1 Nf5 64.Kb2 Nh6 0-1

• If 65.Kc2 Kc4 66.Kd2 Nf5 then:
• 67.Kc2 Nd4+ 68.Kd1 Nxf3 69.Ke2 Ng5 70.Kf2 Kd3 71.h6 Ke4 gives Black a theoretical win.
• 67.Ke2 Ng3+ 68.Kf2 Nxh5 69.Ke2 Ng3+ 70.Kf2 Kd3 gives Black a theoreticla win as White must abandon the pawn.
• Al-Modiaki resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Hou Yifan - Arun, Gaziantep

Hou Yifan
Photo: First Saturday (Hungary)


Hou Yifan - Arun Prasad Subramanian
World Junior Championship, Round 4
Gaziantep, 5 August 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4

• This is a viable alternative to recapturing with the Knight.

4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6

• 6.Qd3 Nf6 7.Nc3 e6 8.Bf4 a6 9.Ba4 b5 10.Bb3 b4 11.Ne2 Qc7 12.Rd1 Ne5 13.Bxe5 dxe5 14.Bc4 Bc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Ng3 a5 17.h3 h6 18.b3 Bc6 19.Qe2 draw (Tseitlin-Stohl, Rimavska Sobota, 1991).

6...Bxc6

• 6...bxc6 7.c4 e5 8.Qd3 Be7 9.Nc3 Qc7 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Rd8 13.Rfe1 Be6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.b4 0-0 16.Rac1 Be7 17.b5 f5 18.Nd5 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qb7 White resigns as after 20.dxe6 fxe4 Black maintains a material advantage (Frois-Pina, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2004).

7.Nc3 h6

• If 7...Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 then:
• 10.Rhe1 0-0 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Nd4 Rfd8 13.f3 Rab8 14.Kb1 b5 15.g4 b4 16.Nce2 a5 is equal (Haznedaroglu-Clerides, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• If 10.Qd3 Qa5 11.h4 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd4 then:
• If 13...Qb6 14.Qe3 0-0-0 15.Rd3 Bxd4 16.Rxd4 e5 then:
• 17.Qh3+ Bd7 18.Rc4+ Kb8 19.Qg3 Be6 20.Ra4 g5 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Rd1 Rh4 23.Qxg5 Rg4 24.Qe7 Rd7 25.Qe8+ Rd8 26.Qe7 Rd7 27.Qe8+ Rd8 draw (Zelcic-Kolev, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 17.Rd3 Qxe3+ 18.Rxe3 f5 19.Rd1 Rhf8 20.f3 fxe4 21.fxe4 Rf2 22.g3 draw (Degraeve-Tiviakov, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13...0-0 14.Kb1 d5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Qf3 Qc4 18.Nb3 Qb5 is equal (Nakamura-Karjakin, Match, Cuernavaca, 2004).

8.Be3 e5 9.Qc4!?

• 9.Qd3 Nf6 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.h3 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 hxg5 14.Bxg5 b4 15.Bxf6 bxc3 16.Bxe7 cxb2+ 17.Kb1 Qxe7 gives Black an extra pawn (Haznedaroglu-Markos, Pl. Torino, 2006).

9...Nf6

• If 9...Qc8 10.Qd3 Qg4 11.0-0 f5 12.Nd2 f4 13.f3 gives White more mobility.

10.0-0-0

• Taking advantage of her superior development, White takes aim up the d-file.

10...Qc8

• The game is equal.
• After 10...Qc7 White gets a choke hold on the center with 11.Rhe1 Qa5 12.Kb1 a6 13.b4 Qc7 14.Nd5.

11.Qd3 a6 12.Nh4!?

• White tries a mildly risky move in hopes of provoking Black into an error.
• Better is 12.Nd2 b5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Qg4 15.Rhg1 Rc8 with equality.

12...b5

• Black's response is a good one. He initiates the Sicilian minority attack.

13.f4

• White counters with a boilerplate plan on the kingside.

13...b4 14.fxe5 dxe5

• 14...bxc3 15.exf6 cxb2+ 16.Kxb2 Qb7+ 17.Qb3 remains equal.

15.Nd5 Bb5 16.Qd2 Qc6

• 16...Nxd5?! 17.Qxd5 Bc4 18.Qxe5+ Qe6 19.Qxe6+ Bxe6 20.Kb1 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• If 16...Nxe4!? 17.Qe1 then:
• 17...Qc4 18.b3 Qc6 19.Bb6 Nd6 20.Nc7+ wins the exchange.
• 17...Ba4 18.Qe2 Qc6 19.Bb6 Be7 20.Qxe4 Bxh4 21.b3 Bg5+ 22.Be3 leaves White a piece up.

17.Nf3 Nd7

• If 17...a5? 18.Nxe5 then:
• 18...Qb7 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Ng4 Be7 21.Bd4 Qc6 22.Nxh6 gives White two extra paws as 22...Qxe4?? loses more material for Black.
• 18...Qd6 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Qxd6 Bxd6 21.Rxd6 fxe5 22.Rd5 gives White an extra pawn and the embryo of an attack on the Black King.

18.Nxb4 Qc4?!

• Black "sacrifices" a pawn by mitting to recapture. The recapture is the better option.
• 18...Qxe4! 19.Nd5 Qc4 20.b3 Qc6 21.Rhe1 Rc8 remains equal.

BLACK: Arun Prasad Subramanian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 18...Qc6c4

19.Nd5!

• White cuts the communications between the Black Queen and its camp.
• 19.Qd5? Rc8 20.a3 Bxb4 21.Qxc4 Rxc4 22.axb4 Ba4 allows Black to retake the pawn with a small advantage.

19...Qxa2 20.Nc7+ Kd8 21.Qc3 Qa1+?

• Black fails to counter White's pressure up the c- and d-files. White now wins in a few elegant strokes.
• If 21...Rc8! 22.Bb6 Qa1+ 23.Kd2 then:
• 23...Qxd1+! 24.Rxd1 Nxb6 25.Nxe5 Rxc7 26.Qd4+ Kc8 27.Qxb6 leaves White better, but allows Black to fight on.
• 23...Qa4? loses to 24.Ke3 Bc6 25.Qxe5.

22.Kd2 Qa4 23.Nd5 Rc8 24.Bb6+ Nxb6 25.Nxb6 1-0

• If 25...Rxc3 then White wins the exchange and more after 26.Kxc3+ Kc7 27.Nxa4 Bxa4 28.Nxe5.
• Arun resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from recent events

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

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]

7. Stefanova - Sebag, Krasnoturinsk

Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Antoaneta Stefanova - Marie Sebag
North Urals Cup, Round 5
Krasnoturinsk, 1 August 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6

• If 6...Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 then:
• If 8...Qc7 9.Bd2 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.0-0-0 Nbd7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.e4 then:
• 14...0-0-0 15.exd5 cxd5+ 16.Kb1 Qd6 17.g3 g5 18.Bd3 Kb8 19.f4 f6 20.Rde1 Nb6 21.Re2 Rc8 22.Rhe1 Nc4 23.Bxc4 dxc4 24.Qf3 Bd8 25.d5 Rc5 26.fxg5 Qxd5 27.Bf4+ Kc8 28.Qxd5 draw (Kishnev-Volkov,Euro ChT, Halidiki, 2002).
• If 14...Nb6 15.g3 0-0-0 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.e5 Be7 18.h4 Kb8 19.Bd3 Qc8 20.Kb1 Ka8 21.Rc1 Qe6 22.Rhe1 Rc8 23.Be3 Nc4 24.f4 Nxe3 25.Rxe3 gives White the advantage in space (Najer-Wang Yue, Areoflot Op, <oscow, 2006).
• If 9...Nbd7 10.cxd5 then:
• 10...exd5 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.fxe4 Nb6 15.Bg5 Re8 16.Bd3 Ng4 17.Rhf1 f6 18.h3 Ne5 19.dxe5 fxg5 20.e6 Qe5 21.Be2 Bc5 22.Rf7 Re7 23.a4 Rhe8 24.a5 Be3+ 25.Kb1 Qxa5 26.Nd5 cxd5 27.Qxe3 dxe4 28.Qc1+ Black resigns two pawns down (Tregubov-Peng, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• 10...Nxd5 11.e4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be7 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.g3 Rd8 15.Be3 0-0 16.Be2 b5 17.a4 a6 18.Kf2 Nb6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra2 Ra8 21.Rha1 Rxa2 22.Rxa2 gives White the advantage in space (Khismatullin-Lastin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• If 8...Qb6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 then:
• 11...Qxb3 12.axb3 Bd6 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bd3 Ng3 15.Rhe1 0-0 16.Ne2 Nxe2+ 17.Rxe2 a5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Kb1 Rfc8 20.Rc1 Rxc1+ 21.Bxc1 Nb8 22.Rc2 draw (Tregubov-Malakhov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• 11...Be7 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.Qc2 Kb8 14.g4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Rh3 16.g5 Nd5 17.e4 Nxc3+ 18.Qxc3 Qc7 is equal (Tkachiev-Shirov, Op, Corsica, 2003).

7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.g3

• 9.Rc1 Bd6 10.g3 Qe7 11.c5 Bc7 12.f4 Ba5 13.Nb1 Bxd2+ 14.Nxd2 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.h4 f5 17.Kf2 Nf6 18.Be2 Kf7 19.a3 a5 20.Qd2 Rhb8 21.Rc2 b5 draw (Bareev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2005).

9...Bb4

• 9...Be7 10.b3 0-0 11.Bg2 dxc4 12.bxc4 e5 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.0-0 Rfd8 16.Bc1 Nf8 17.Bb2 exd4 18.exd4 Ne6 19.d5 Nc5 20.Qc2 Bd6 21.Ba3 Rbc8 22.dxc6 bxc6 23.Ne2 Ne6 24.Bxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.Rd1 Qe5 draw (Kramnik-Gelfand, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2005).

10.Qb3 a5!?

• If 10...Ba5 11.Bg2 then:
• 11...0-0 12.0-0 Nb6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Rad1 Re8 15.Bc1 Qd7 16.Qc2 g5 draw (Wang Yue-Wang Hao, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 11...Rb8 12.0-0 Nb6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Rad1 Nc4 15.Bc1 Nd6 16.f3 0-0 17.e4 Bxc3 18.bxc3 dxe4 19.fxe4 Nfxe4 gives Black an extra pawn while White has a little more space and better potential for her minor pieces.(Borobiov-Dreev, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 10...Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4 12.Bg2 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 f5 14.0-0 Qe7 15.cxd5 exd5 is equal (Kramnik-Topalov, World Ch Match, Elista, 2006).

11.Bg2

• The game is equal.11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bg2 Nb6 13.h4 Nc4 14.a3 is equal.

11...Nb6 12.c5

• If 12.cxd5 exd5 13.h3 Nc4 14.a3 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 Qe7 remains equal.

12...Nc4 13.Bc1!?

• The Bishop should have remained at d2 in order to recaptre on c3 in the event of Black taking the Knight; the Bishop at d2 also give the Knight the option to move.
• 13.Rd1 b6 14.a3 Bxc3 15.Bxc3 bxc5 16.Qb7 Qc8 17.Qxc8+ Rxc8 18.dxc5 remains equal.

BLACK: Marie Sebag
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova
Position after 13.Bd2c1

13...b6!

• The pawn exchange will give Black the b6 square for her Queen.

14.a3

• 14.cxb6 Qxb6 then:
• If 15.0-0 15...Rc8 16.Na4 Qb5 17.Qc2 Rb8 18.b3 Na3 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 15.a3 Bxc3+ 16.Qxc3 a4 transposes into the text.

14...Bxc3+ 15.Qxc3 a4 16.cxb6 Qxb6 17.Rb1

• Black has the advantage in space.
• If 17.e4 Rb8 18.e5 Nd7 19.Bf1 c5 then:
• 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Qc2 Qc6 22.d5 Qxd5 23.0-0 Nxe5 Black is two pawns to the good.
• 20.dxc5 Qxc5 21.Bxc4 dxc4 22.f4 Rxh2 23.Qf3 Qa5+ leaves Black up a pawn and poised to come crashing in on the queenside.

17...Rb8 18.0-0 Qb5 19.Bf3?!

• This does nothing to strengthen White's position.19.Bd2! fortifies the White Queen ao that:
• 19...Ne4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Rfc1 is equal.
• 19...Qb3 20.Rfc1 Qxc3 21.Bxc3 Kd7 22.Bf1 is equal.

19...Ne4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.f3?

• For much the same reason as before, should be preferred.
• 21.Bd2 Rc8 22.Rfc1 Qh5 23.h4 Nxd2 24.Qxd2 g5 25.Rc5! is equal.

BLACK: Marie Sebag
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova
Position after 21.f2f3

21...Nd6

• 21...exf3! weakens White's entire game: in now 22.e4 e5 23.Qxf3 Rb7 24.Rd1 Qb3 25.Qd3 f6 gives Black strength in the center and more activity on the queenside.

22.Qc2 f5?!

• Black's plan is to shut down White's counterplay in the center and break through on the queenside with her heavy pieces.
• Better than the text is 22...exf3 23.Rxf3 Qd5 24.Rf4 Rb3 25.Bd2 Nc4 giving Black a chokehold on the queenside.

23.Qc5 Kd7 24.Qe5!

• This is White's only way of getting serious counterplay.24.Qxb5 Rxb5 25.h4 exf3 26.Rxf3 Ne4 gives Black more mobility.

24...Rh7 25.Bd2

• Again, White activates her neglected pieces.
• 25.Qxb5 Rxb5 26.f4 Nc4 27.h4 Rb3 gives Black a much more active position.

25...exf3 26.Bb4

• If 26.Qxb5 then after 26...Nxb5 27.Bb4 Rbh8 28.Rf2 g5 Black still has a strong game.

26...Ne4

• Black remains a pawn to the good after 26...Qxe5 27.dxe5 Nc4 28.Rxf3 Nxe5 29.Rd1+ Ke8 30.Rf2 Rb5.

27.Qxb5 cxb5 28.Rxf3 Rbh8 29.h4 g5 30.d5

• 30.Be1 gxh4 31.gxh4 g5 32.b3 axb3 33.Rxb3 Kc6 puts Black in a strong position to attack on the kingside.

30...gxh4?!

• Black misses an opportunity to put the gamew away.
• 30...g4 31.dxe6+ Kxe6 32.Rf2 Nxg3 33.Rh2 Rxh4 34.Rxh4 Rxh4 gives Black two extra pawns.

31.g4 exd5?!

• Another opportunity is missed.
• After 31...g6 32.b3 axb3 33.gxf5 gxf5 34.Rxb3 exd5 35.Rxf5 Ke6 Black is winning.

32.Rxf5 Ke6 33.Rc1 g6?

• Black makes a careless move that drops two pawns and completely spoils her game.
• 33...h3 34.Kh2 Nf6 35.Rf4 Re8 36.Rc7 is equal.


• 33...Nf6 34.Rc7 Re8 35.Rg5 Ne4 36.Rg6+ Ke5 37.Rf7 whittles away at Black's advantage.
• Now it is White who breaks through on the queenside.

BLACK: Marie Sebag
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova
Position after 33...g7g6

34.Rc6+!

• White skewers the g-pawn.

34...Kd7

• Black's response is forced. There is no way to save the d-pawn.
• 34...Nd6?? 35.Rxd6+! Ke7 36.Rdxd5+ Ke6 37.Rfe5+ Kf6 38.g5+ Kf7 39.Rd7+ Kg8 40.Re8#.

35.Rxg6 h3 36.Kh2 Kc7 37.Rxd5 Rf7

• White also has the b-pawn in her sites.
• 37...Rh6 38.Ba5+ Kc8 39.Rxh6 Rxh6 40.Rxb5 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• Black is kaput after 37...Rb8 38.Re5 Ng3 39.Rc5+ Kd7 40.Kxg3 Rbh8 41.Kh2.

38.Rf5!

• After 38.Rh5 Rxh5 39.gxh5 Rf5 40.h6 Rh5 41.Rg7+ the pawn advances.

38...Rhh7

• After 38...Rxf5 White snaps up another pawn with 39.gxf5 Kd8 40.Rb6 Kc8 41.Rxb5.

39.Rxf7+ Rxf7 40.Kxh3

• White has won another pawn.

40...Rf3+ 41.Kh4 Rxe3 42.g5 Nf2

• Black can get another pawn back after 42...Re2 43.Re6 Rh2+ 44.Kg4 Rg2+ 45.Kh5 Ng3+ 46.Kg6, but then the g-pawn will be stopped only at a great cost.

43.Rg7+ Kc6 44.Kh5

• 44.g6 Rh3+ 45.Kg5 Rg3+ 46.Kf4 Rg1 47.Bc3 threatens 48.Rg8.

44...Rh3+ 45.Kg6 Nd1

• If 45...Rb3 46.Rf7 Nd3 47.Rf6+ then:
• If 47...Kd7 48.Bf8 then:
• If 48...Nxb2 49.Kf7 Nc4 50.Rf5 Ne3 51.Rf4 then:
• 51...Nd5 52.Rf2 b4 53.Bxb4 Nxb4 54.axb4 Rxb4 55.g6 a3 56.g7 is lights out.
• If 51...Nc4 then after 52.g6 Rg3 53.Rd4+ Kc6 54.g7 Rf3+ 55.Kg6 White wins.
• If 48...Rxb2 then 49.Kh7 Ne5 50.g6 Rh2+ 51.Kg8 Rh3 52.g7 wins for White.
• If 47...Kd5 White wins after 48.Rf5+ Kc6 49.Be7 Rxb2 50.Kf7 b4 51.g6.

46.Rh7 Rb3 47.Rh6 Nxb2
BLACK: Marie Sebag
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WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova
Position after 47...Nd1b2:p

48.Kh7+!

• This tactical stroke puts the last nail in Black's coffin.

48...Kd5 49.g6 Rg3 50.g7 1-0

• It will cost Black the Rook to stop the pawn.
• Mlle. Sebag resigns.
• A fine recovery by the former women's world champion.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Xu Yuhua - Ushenina, Krasnoturinsk

Anna Ushenina
Photo: ChessBase.com


Xu Yuhua - Anna Ushenina
North Urals Cup, Round 6
Krasnoturinsk, 2 August 2008

Open German Game: Seirawan Defense (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3

• This is the main line of the Seirawan Defense.

10...e6 11.Bd2

• If 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.0-0-0 Ngf6 then:
• If 14.Ne4 0-0-0 15.g3 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bd6 17.c4 c5 then:
• 18.d5 Nf6 19.Qc2 exd5 20.cxd5 Rhe8 21.Bc3 Qd7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Kb1 f5 24.Nh4 Re4 25.f3 Re5 26.f4 Re4 27.g4 Rxf4 28.Nxf5 Rxg4 29.Nxh6 gives White the more active game (Sandipan-Asrian, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 18.Bc3 Nf6 19.Qe2 cxd4 20.Nxd4 a6 21.Kb1 Rd7 22.Rc1 Kb8 23.Nb3 Qc6 24.Rh4 is equal (Kotronias-Jobava, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 14.Qe2 0-0-0 15.Ne5 Nb6 16.Ba5 Rd5 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.c4 Ra5 19.Kb1 Bd6 20.f4 Kb8 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 b5 23.c5 Bxe5 24.Qxe5 Rd8 25.g3 Qxe5 26.dxe5 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Kc7 28.Rd4 Ra7 29.a3 Ra6 draw (Popova-Danielian, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rhe1 Nf6 20.g4 Bd6 21.f3 b5 22.Nd3 Bxf4 23.Nxf4 Rfd8 draw (Mkrtchian-Chibudanidze, N. Urals, Krasnoturyinsk, 2006).

11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7

• 12...Qc7 13.Ne4 Bd6 14.g3 b5 15.Kb1 a5 16.Nxf6+ Nxf6 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Qxe5 is equal (Chandler-Seirawan, IT, London, 1984).

13.Kb1

• 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 0-0 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.g4 Bf6 21.f3 Nd6 22.b3 Rac8 23.Kc2 b5 24.c5 gives White more mobility (Balogh-Pentala, Ol, Torino, 2006).

13...0-0 14.Qe2 Qb6 15.c4 Rfd8

• If 15...Rfe8 then:
• If 16.Ne5 Rad8 17.Bc3 c5 18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Ne4 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Qc6 21.Qg4 then:
• If 21...e5 22.Bc3 Nf6 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 then:
• 24.Rxd8 draw (Ye Jiangchuan-Izoria, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 24.f3!? Rc8 25.Rd7 e4 26.Bxf6 Qxf6 27.fxe4 Rxc4 28.Qf3 Qe6 is equal (Pogonina-Ushenina, N. Urals (Rd 1), Krasnoturinsk, 2008).
• 21...Bf8? 22.Bf6! Rc8 23.Rh3 Qxc4 24.Rc3 Qb5 25.Rxd7 Kh8 26.Rxf7 Black resigns with White a Knight to the good (Xu Yuhua-Ushenina, FIDE Knock Out W, Ekaterininburg, 2006).
• 16.Bc3 Bb4 17.Bxb4 Qxb4 18.Ne5 Rad8 19.a3 Qa5 20.f4 c5 21.Rd2 cxd4 22.Rhd1 Nxe5 23.fxe5 Nd7 24.Rxd4 Nb8 25.b4 Qc7 26.Rd6 is equal (Ni Hua-Doettling, Cyberspace, 2006).

16.Rhe1!?

• 16.Ne5 c5 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Bc3 Bd4 20.Bxd4 Rxd4 21.Rxd4 Qxd4 22.Rd1 Qc5 23.Ne4 Qf5 gives Black greater mobility (Hou Yifan-Riazantsev, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

BLACK: Anna Ushenina
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WHITE: Xu Yuhua
Position after 16.Rh1e1

16...a5

• The game is equal.

17.Ne5

• If 17.Bc3 Bb4 18.Qc2 then:
• 18...Qc7 19.Re2 Qd6 20.Rde1 b5 21.c5 Qd5 is equal.
• 18...Qa6 19.Ne5 b5 20.f4 Qb7 21.c5 Qc7 White has the lead in hte space count, but Black can equalize with judicious exchanges starting with 22...Nxe5.

17...c5 18.Bc3 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Bc5 20.Nxd7

• 20.Bxc5 Nxc5 21.f4 a4 22.Qf3 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 a3 gives Black the advantage on the queenside.

20...Nxd7 21.Qe3!?

• If 21.Bc3 Bb4 then:
• 22.Bxb4 axb4 23.Ne4 Qa5 24.a3 bxa3 25.bxa3 Qxa3 gives Black a solid advantage on the queenside.
• 22.Ne4 Bxc3 23.Nxc3 Rac8 24.Nb5 Nf6 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 gives Black an advantage in mobility.

21...Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Nf6 23.Red1

• If 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 then:
• 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Rc8 26.Rc1 Rc5 27.g4 b5 gives Black the active position.
• 24.Qe2 Qb6 25.Qe3 Qb4 26.Rc1 Rd8 27.a3 Qd6 gives Black the advantage in that if the Queens and Knights are exchanged, she will have the active Rook.

23...Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Rc8

• 24...Rd8 25.c5 Qc7 26.Ne4 Nxe4 27.Qxe4 Rc8 gives Black the active position.

25.a3?!

• This kind of waiting move is not justified here.
• White would do better with 25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Qxe4 Qc5 27.Qxb7 Rf8 28.Qe4, when Black has only a small advantage after 28...Qxh5.

25...Qc6?!

• This move leads to equality for Black.
• If 25...Rd8! 26.Rd2 Qc7 then:
• 27.Rd4 Rc8 28.Ne4 Nxh5 29.g4 e5 gives Black much more activity.
• 27.Rxd8+ Qxd8 28.Qf3 Qb6 gives more opportunities to Black.

BLACK: Anna Ushenina
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WHITE: Xu Yuhua
Position after 25...Qb6c6

26.Ne4!

• Black's inaccuracy has allows White to take an advantage in space.
• 26.Qf3?! allows Black to get back on top by exchanging Queens; after 26...Qxf3! 27.gxf3 e5 28.Rh4 Kf8 29.b3 Rc5 White's position is completely restrained.

26...Nxh5

• 26...e5 27.Nxf6+ Qxf6 28.Rd5 Qf4 29.Qxf4 exf4 30.b3 gives White the active Rook.
• If 26...Ne8 27.f4 b5 28.c5 then:
• 28...Nc7 29.Rd6 Qa8 30.Rd7 Nd5 White equalizes.

27.g4 Nf6 28.Nxf6+ gxf6 29.Qxh6

• ]While has equalized.

29...Qf3

• 29...e5 30.Rd1 f5 31.Qxc6 Rxc6 32.gxf5 Rxc4 is equal.

30.Rf4?

• 30.Qe3 Qxe3 31.fxe3 e5 32.Re4 Kg7 33.b4 remains equal.

30...Qd3+!

• 30...Qd1+?! 31.Ka2 e5 32.Rxf6 Qc2 33.Qg5+ Kf8 34.Qxe5 is equal.

31.Ka2 e5 32.Rxf6

• 32.Rf5 Qxc4+ 33.Ka1 Qxg4 34.Rh5 Qg7 35.Qd2 Qg1+ gives Black a strong advantage.

32...Qxc4+ 33.Ka1 Qf1+ 34.Ka2 Rc1!

• Black appears to be moving in for the kill. Can White save herself with perpetual check? Maybe, but the clock is now White's enemy.

BLACK: Anna Ushenina
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WHITE: Xu Yuhua
Position after 34...Rc8c1

35.Rg6+ fxg6 36.Qxg6+ Kf8 37.Qd6+ Ke8 38.Qb8+ Kd7 39.Qxb7+ Kd6 40.Qb6+ Kd5 41.Qb7+ Kd4 42.Qb6+ Ke4 43.Qe3+ Kd5 44.Qf3+ Kc5 45.Qe3+ Kc6 0-1

• WGM Xu has no time left on her clock.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Sebag - Cramling, Krasnoturinsk

Marie Sebag
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Marie Sebag - Pia Cramling
North Urals Cup, Round 7
Krasnoturinsk, 3 August 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0 Be7

• 8...Bb4 9.f3 0-0 10.g4 b5 11.h4 Ne5 12.h5 Bb7 13.h6 g6 14.g5 Ne8 is equal (Axel Smith-Stellwagen, IT, Malmø, 2008).

9.f3 h5

• If 9...d6 10.g4 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.g5 Nd7 12.h4 then:
• If 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b5 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 Bb7 16.b3 then:
• 16...Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Nc4 d5 22.Nb6 Rad8 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Qe3 Ng4 25.Nxd5 Nxe3 26.Nxc7 Bxd4 27.Nxe6 Nxd1 28.Rxd1 Bf6 29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ draw (Leko-Svidler, IT, Linares, 2006).
• 16...d5 17.g6 fxg6 18.Bh3 e5 19.Bxd7 Qxd7 20.Bc5 d4 21.Nb6 Qc7 is equal (Bologan-Volokitin, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 12...b5 13.g6 then:
• 13...hxg6 14.h5 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Ne5 16.h6 Bf6 17.hxg7 Bxg7 18.f4 Bb7 19.Qh2 Rfd8 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Be3 Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 b4 23.Na4 Qd7+ 24.Bd3 Qxa4 25.Qh7+ White is two pawns up; Black resigns (Schneider-Benjamin, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• If 13...Nf6 14.gxh7+ Kxh7 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Bd3 Kh8 17.Rdg1 b4 18.Bh6 Rg8 19.e5 g6 20.exf6 bxc3 21.Qg5 Black resigns (Adams-Sheldon, British Ch, Hove, 1997).
• 10...b5 11.Nxc6 Qxc6 12.Ne2 Bb7 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 Qc7 15.h5 0-0-0 16.Nd4 Kb8 17.Bd3 Nc5 18.Kb1 g6 19.Qh2 gives White the advantage in space (Ye Jiangchuan-Sitanggang, Jakarta, 1994).

10.Kb1 b5 11.Qf2 Bb7 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Bd3 b4 14.Ne2 e5 15.Bc5 d6 16.Bxb4 0-0 17.c4

• White plan is to strike in the center.
• 17.Ng3 Rfb8 18.Bc3 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Qxc3 21.b3 leaves White with the initiative.

17...Rab8 18.Bd2

• 18.Bc3 would be inconsistant with the plan laid out in the previous note: 18...Ba4 19.b3 Bc6 20.Kc2 a5 21.Rb1 Rb7 White is not able to get her Knight to d5.

18...Nd7

• 18...Rfc8 then:
• 19.Nc3 a5 20.Rc1 Qb7 21.Be3 a4 22.Nd5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 19.Bc3 Ba4 20.b3 Bd7 21.Kc2 a5 22.Rb1 gives White an extra pawn and Black a bit more space.

19.Nc3!

• White completely controls d5.

19...Nc5 20.Be3! Qa5 21.Bxc5 dxc5

• After 21...Qxc3 22.Ka1 Qa5 23.Ba3 Rfc8 24.f4 Qc7 25.Qf3 White maintains her advantage in activity.

22.Nd5 Bxd5

• 22...Rfe8 23.Bc2 Bg5 24.Qg3 Qd8 25.Rd3 gives White more activity.

23.exd5 e4 24.Bxe4

• If 24.fxe4 Bf6 25.Rd2 Rb7 26.e5 Bxe5 27.Rc1 Qa3 28.Bh7+ leaves White a pawn to the good.
• If 26.Ka1? Rfb8 27.e5 Bxe5 28.Rb1 Rb3 gives Black a tactical initiative on the queenside.

24...Rb4 25.Qc2 Rfb8 26.b3 Qa4

• If 26...Qa3 27.Rd3 Bf6 28.d6 Rxc4 29.Qd2 then:
• 29...Rxe4 30.fxe4 c4 31.e5 Bxe5 32.Re3 Bf4 33.d7 is equal.
• If 29...Rd4 30.Qc1 Qb4 31.Rhd1 then:
• 31...Rd8 32.Bd5 Rxd6 33.Rxd4 cxd4 34.Qc4 Qxc4 35.bxc4 is equal.
• 31...Qb5? 32.Rxd4 cxd4 33.Bd3 Qb4 34.Qc6 makes White's d-pawn a potent threat.

27.Rd3?!

• If 27.Rde1 Rxc4 28.Bh7+ Kf8 then:
• 29.Qf2 Bd6 30.Re4 Rcb4 31.Kc1 Qb5 is equal.
• If 29.Qe2? Bf6 then:
• If 30.Qd1 then Black wins after 30...Qa3 31.Re2 Rcb4 32.f4 Rxb3+ 33.axb3 Rxb3+.
• Black also wins after 30.Qe3 Rc3 31.Qd2 Rcxb3+ 32.axb3 Qxb3+ 33.Kc1 Bb2+ 34.Kb1 Bc3+.

BLACK: Pia Cramling
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WHITE: Marie Sebag
Position after 27.Rd3

27...Rxc4!

• With this move, Black equalizes. Although White keeps the pawn, Black now has more mobility and a more active game.
• 27...Bg5 28.Qf2 h4 29.g3 Rxc4 30.gxh4 Bf6 31.Rf1 Qb5 32.Rfd1 is equal.

28.Rc3

• If 28.Qd2 Rcb4 29.Kc1 Qa3+ then:
• 30.Kd1 c4 31.Rc3 cxb3 32.Bb1 bxa2 gives Black a strong and clear advantage.
• 30.Qb2 Bg5+ 31.Kc2 Qxb2+ 32.Kxb2 c4 gives Black a strong queenside initiative.

28...Rxc3 29.Qxc3 Bf6 30.Qd2!

• 30.Qc2 c4 31.Kc1 cxb3 32.axb3 Qa1+ 33.Qb1 Qd4 gives Black more activity.

30...c4!

• White find the right move to maintain equality.
• After 30...Rxb3+?! 31.axb3 Qa1+ 32.Kc2 Qxh1 33.d6 g6 34.d7 the advanced pawn gives White the advantage.

31.Qf4 Qb5 32.Rc1

• If 32.Bc2 then:
• If 32...cxb3 33.axb3 Rd8 34.Rd1 Qa5 35.Qa4 then:
• 35...Qxa4! 36.bxa4 Rb8+ 37.Kc1 Bg5+ 38.Rd2 Rb4 Black must win the exchange.
• 35...Qc3?! 36.Qa3 Qe5 37.d6 Qxh2 38.Qc5 is equal.
• 32...a5 33.Qf5 a4 34.Re1 Kf8 35.Qxh5 g6 gives Black a vicious attack on the queenside.

32...cxb3 33.a4 Qe8

• 33...Qb6 34.Rc6 Qg1+ 35.Rc1 Qa7 remains equal.

34.Qf5 Kf8 35.d6 Qe6

• 35...Rd8 36.Rc6 Bd4 37.Qxh5 g6 38.Qd5 Be5 39.Rxa6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

36.d7

• 36.Rc6 Qxf5 37.Bxf5 Re8 38.Be4 a5 is equal.

BLACK: Pia Cramling
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WHITE: Marie Sebag
Position after 36.d6d7

36...Rd8!

• Black finds the best move.
• 36...Qxf5? 37.Bxf5 Rd8 38.Rc6 Be5 39.Rxa6 g6 40.Bh3 leaves White a pawn to the good.

37.Qxe6 fxe6 38.Rc8 Ke7 39.Bc6 Kd6

• 39...g5 40.a5 Be5 41.Ba4 h4 42.Rc4 b2 is equal.

40.a5

• 40.Rxd8 Bxd8 41.Bb7 a5 42.Kb2 Kxd7 43.Kxb3 is most likely headed for a draw.

40...g5 41.Ba4 Ke7 42.Rc7

• 42.Rc4 b2 43.Rb4 Bc3 44.Rb6 Bxa5 45.Rxb2 remains equal.

42...Bd4 43.Rc4 e5 44.Rb4 b2 45.Kc2 h4?

• Neither side makes progress by 45...g4 46.f4 g3 47.hxg3 Rf8 48.Rc4 Rb8 49.Kb1 Rd8.

BLACK: Pia Cramling
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WHITE: Marie Sebag
Position after 45...h5h4

46.h3!

• Also good is 46.Rc4 g4 47.f4 g3 then:
• White wins after 48.h3! Rb8 49.Kb1 Rf8 50.Rc8!.
• 48.hxg3? hxg3 49.fxe5 Bxe5 leads to a draw.

46...Kd6

• If 46...Ke6 then:
• 47.Rc4! Kd6 48.Kb1 Ke6 49.Rc8 Ke7 50.Kc2 leaves Black in Zugszwang where she must begin to lose material however she plays.
• 47.Kb1 Kd5 48.Rb3 Ke6 49.Rb4 remains equal and lifeless.

47.Rc4 Rb8 48.Kb1 Rd8 49.Rc8 Ke7 50.Kc2 e4

• Zugzwang (see note to Black's 46th move). Black cannot move without losing material.
• Pia could have resigned here.

51.fxe4 Be5 52.Rc5 Kd6 53.Rc8

• Better is the immediate 53.Rd5+.

53...Ke7 54.Kb1 Bd4 55.Rc4 Be5 56.Rc5 Kd6

• A more stubborn resistance follows 56...Bd4 57.Rxg5 Rf8 58.Bd1 Kd8 59.Rd5.

57.Rd5+ Ke6 58.Bd1 Kf6 59.Be2

• Also good is 59.Bg4 Bc3 60.Rc5 Bb4 61.Rf5+.

59...Bc7

• No better for Black is 59...Bc3 60.Bxa6 Ke7 61.Bb5 Bxa5 62.Kxb2.

60.Bxa6 Ra8 61.Bb7 Ke7 1-0

• There is no way to stop the pawn without losing a piece.
• Pia resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Carlsen - Anand, World Rapid Championship, Mainz

Vishy Anand won the annual rapid chess championship in Mainz for the ninth year in a row.



Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Vishy Anand
World Rapid Championship, Round 2
Mainz Chess Festival, 3 August 2008

Closed Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bf4

• 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 Nbd7 12.Ba5 Rc8 13.Nbd2 Ba8 14.Qc2 Qe8 15.b4 Nb8 16.Ne5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Bd6 is equal (Pelletier-Wells, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

10...Nc6 11.Nc3 Nb4 12.Qc1

• 12.Qb1 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Be5 Ng4 15.Ne4 Bxe4 16.Qxe4 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Rc8 18.Rad1 Nd5 is equal (Torre-Giorgadze, IT, Hannover, 1983).

12...Rc8

• 12...Nbd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Ne5 Nxf4 15.Qxf4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Qd5+ 17.e4 Qxd4 18.Nc6 Qd6 19.Rac1 e5 20.Qxe5 Qxe5 21.Nxe5 is equal (Graf-Doettling, Op, Bad Woerishofen, 2001).

13.Rd1 Nbd5 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Be3 Ng4

• 15...c6 16.Ne1 Qb6 17.Nd3 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Nd5 19.Nf4 Nxf4+ 20.Bxf4 c5 21.Qe3 c4 gives Black more mobility (Dizdarevic-Huzman, Euro CHT, Pula, 1997).

16.Ne1 Bxg2

• 16...c5 17.dxc5 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Bxc5 19.Qf4 g5?! 20.Qg4 Qf6 21.Nd3 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rfe8 is equal (Andersson-Tal, IT, Brussels, 1988).

17.Nxg2

• 17.Kxg2 Qd5+ 18.f3 c5 19.Bg1 cxd4 20.Qf4 Nf6 21.Qxd4 draw (Jha Sriram-Yu Shaoteng, Asian Ch, Calcutta, 2001).

17...Qd5

• If 17...Nf6 18.Bg5 then:
• 18...Qd6 19.a4 b4 20.Bf4 Qd5 21.Be5 c5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 18...Qd5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nf4 Qd6 21.a4 c6 22.e3 is equal.

18.h3!?

• 18.f3 Nxe3 19.Nxe3 Qb7 20.Kg2 c5 21.dxc5 Bxc5 gives Black more mobility (Bruzón-Anand, Ol, Torino, 2006).

18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3

• 19.Nxe3 Qh5 20.Kg2 Qxe2 21.Rd2 Qh5 22.Qc6 Bb4 23.Rdd1 a5 gives Black an extra pawn.

19...c5

• 19...Qf5 20.g4 Qf6 21.Rac1 Rfd8 22.Qe5 c5 is better for Black.

20.Nf4 Qf5 21.dxc5 Bxc5 22.Qd3?

• This inaccuracy leads to the loss of a pawn.
• 22.Qf3! Rfd8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Kg2 Bd6 25.Rd1 Qg5 26.e3 is equal.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 22.Qe3d3

22...Qf6!

• Black takes aim at the b-pawn.

23.Qd2

• 23.e3 g5 24.Nh5 Qf3 25.g4 Qxh3 26.Nf6+ Kg7 leaves Black up by a pawn on the kingside.

23...Rfd8 24.Qa5 e5 25.Rxd8+

• If 25.Nd3 Bb6 then:
• If 26.Qb4 Rd4 27.Qe1 e4 28.Nf4 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 then:
• 29...e3 30.f3 Qxb2 31.Nd5 Bc5 32.Rc1 Qe5 gives White the extra pawn and shuts down Black's counterplay.
• 29...Qxb2 30.Nd5 Bc5 31.Qd2 Qe5 Black still gets the extra pawn, but White has a little room to maneuvre.
• 26.Qe1 e4 27.Nf4 Qxb2 28.e3 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

25...Rxd8 26.Nd3 Bb6 27.Qc3

• If 27.Qb4 then the exchange sacrifice 27...Rxd3!! 28.exd3 Qxf2+ 29.Kh1 Qxg3 30.Qg4 Qxd3 31.Qc8+ Bd8 gives White the advantage although his pieces are tied down defending against a back rank mate for the moment.

27...Bd4 28.Qe1

• If 28.Qc2 e4 29.Nf4 g5 then:
• 30.e3 gxf4 31.exd4 fxg3 32.Rd1 Rxd4 33.Rxd4 Qxd4 34.Qc8+ Kg7 Black emerges from a series of checks with a superior position.
• 30.Nh5 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 Qf5 32.g4 Qe5 33.Rd1 e3 gives Black an extra pawn.

28...e4 29.Nf4 Bxb2

• Black has won an extra pawn.
• What is better for Black about being up an extra pawn now than in some of the variations above (e.g., the not to White's 23rd move) is that this gives Black a distant majority on the queenside with dimishing material.

30.Rd1 Be5

• With the pawn in hand, Black will now prepare to march his queenside majority forward.

31.Nd5 Qe6 32.Qa5

• 32.Nf4 Qc8 33.Nd5 Qc5 34.Qd2 Kf8 maintains Black in a superior position with an extra pawn.

32...Rd6 33.Ne3

• 33.Qc7 g6 34.Qc5 h6 35.Kg2 Kh7 36.a3 Rd7 gives Black more mobility to go with his extra pawn.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 33.Nd5e3

33...Rxd1+!

• Black's plan is to make use of his queenside majority; exchange pieces in order to augment his material advantage; and keep the White king on the kingside away from the advancing pawns.

34.Nxd1 h6 35.Kg2 Qc6

• After 35...Bf6 36.Qc7 Qc4 37.Qb7 Kh7 38.Ne3 Qxa2 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn.

36.Ne3 g6 37.Qb4 Kg7 38.Kh2 Bc3 39.Qe7 Bd4 40.Qb4

• The game is decided. White could try to elimate Black's queenside majority, but that would only give Black time to create another advantage.
• After 40.Qa3 Qc5 41.Qxa6 Bxe3 42.fxe3 Qxe3 43.Qxb5 Qf2+ Black eats White's kingside pawns.

40...Qc5!

• Exchanging all remaining pieces wins immediately for Black.

41.Qd2

• After 41.Qxc5 Bxc5 42.Nc2 f5 43.f4 a5 44.g4 b4 Black remains a pawn up with a menacing advancing majority.

41...Bxe3 42.fxe3

• It is imperative for White to keep the Queens on the board.
• Black wins after 42.Qxe3 Qxe3 43.fxe3 b4.

42...b4 43.Kg2 a5 44.Kf2 a4 45.Qb2+ Kg8 46.Qd2 b3 47.axb3 axb3 48.Qd8+ Kg7 49.Qd2 Qb6

• 49...Qe5 50.Qb4 b2 51.Kg2 Kf6 will win, but it will take longer.

50.Qb2+
BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 50.Qd2b2+

50...Qf6+!! 0-1

• After 51.Qxf6+ Kxf6 Black wins.
• Magnus resigns.