The JR Chess Report (June 13): Motylev takes Poikovsky in Late Round Showdown

[Jack Rabbit]

Motylev Wins Poikovsky



Russian GM Alexander Motylev won the 10th Karpov Intenational Tournament in the Siberian oil town of Poikovsky yesterday with 7 points in nine rounds, one point ahead of his nearest rival, Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan, whom Motylev defeated the day before in a dramatic showdown.

Grandmasters Ernesto Inarkiev of Russia and Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany were also in the race through the middle rounds. Herr Naidisch lost consecutive games to Motylev and Gashimov in rounds 6 and 7 to end his hopes and to set up the eighth-round showdown.

Motylev and Gashimov went to the eighth round tied at 5½ points each. It was clear that the tournament championship would go to whichever man took a decisive game.

Happily, when the game started, the two men showed that they came to play chess. Motylev, playing White, opened with his e-pawn to which Gashimov responded with the Petroff Defense (Epine Dorsal: Horseman Defense), considered by many to be a drawing tool but seems to attract the aggressive Azer for other reasons. The pair played an exciting gam, if by no means a perfect one. Mistakes were made by both, as were exceptionally fine moves. In the end, it was Gashimov who made the final error, giving the game to Motylev in 75 moves.

Inarkiev finished tied for third with Israeli GM Emil Sutovsky at 5 points each. Former US national champion Alex Onischuk finished tied for fifth with 4½ points.


44th Capablanca Memorial underway in Havana



The 44th Capablanca Memorial Tournament, named for the greatest Cuban chessplayer of all time, former world champion José Capablanca (1888-1942), began Monday in Havana in its usual format as a double round robin competition among six players.

As of yesterday, el señor Domínguez leads with 3½ points in five rounds followed by Herr Meier with 3.

The six are Leinier Domínguez of Cuba, the strongest player from Latin American and the second strongest in the western hemisphere; his compatriot, Lázaro Bruzón; Igor Khenkin and Georg Meier of Germany; and Artyom Timofeev and Boris Savchenko of Russia.

In addition to the elite tournament, another group of grandmaster is playing as the premiere group, including 17-year-old gramdmaster Emilio Córdova of Peru, and an open tournament are also taking place.

After five rounds in the premiere group, Cuban GM Neuris Delgado is in the lead with 4 points, followed by Vladimir Potkin of Russia with 3½ and young Córdova with 3.


Ruy López Memorial Begins in Zafra



The third annual Ruy López Festival began today in Zafra in the Spanish province of Badajoz near Spain's border with Portugal.

The main attraction of the festival is a seven round grandmaster tournament among eight players: grandmaster Mickey Adams of England; Bulgarian GM Ivan Cheparinov; 17-year-old Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana; Koneru Humpy of India, the second strongest woman player of all time; Peruvian GM Julio Granda; Pia Cramling of Swedewn, among the first women to be awarded what was once called the men's grandmaster title; and two Spanish IMs, Manuel Pérez Candelario and David Lariño Nieto.

In today's first round play, Cheparinov defeated young Caruana and, in a major upset, Lariño took a grandmaster's scalp from Adams. All other games were drawn.

The event is scheduled to end Sunday.


Social Page: Pogonina-Zhdanov nuptuals



Russian WGM Natalija Pogonina and her husband, Peter Zhdanov
Photo: ChessBase.com via Pogonina.com

Natalia Pogonina, winner of this year's Moscow Women's Open, married Peter Zhdanov, an IT specialist and site adminstrator of her website, on Friday, June 5 in Russia.

The happy couple met last year during the Blitz competition of the Tal Memorial Tournament.


Calendar

Ruy López Chess Fesival, Zafra (Spain) 13-21 June. Main Competition: Cheparinov, Ms. Koneru, Ms. Cramling, Adams, Granda, Pérez, Lariño, Caruana.

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2-12 July.

San Sebastian International Tournament 6-16 July. Former world champion Karpov is among the participants; US Champ Nakamura will also compete.

Canadian Open, Edmonton 11-19 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August.

Biel Chess Festival 19-30 July. This year's GM Tournament is a Category 19 that includes Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Alekseev, Vachier Lagrave and Caruana.

Pan-American Continental Championship, São Paulo 25 July-2 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 27 July-2 August.

US Open, Indianapolis 1-9 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial, London 8-17 August. Played at historic Simpson's Divan.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-15 September. Topalov, Karjakin, Grischuk and Shirov qualify.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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]

2. 10th Karpov International Tournament, Poikovsky

Photo: Poikovsky

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Motylev - Gashimov, Round 8

Alexander Motylev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Alexander Motylev - Vugar Gashimov
10th Karpov International Tournament, Round 8
Poikovsky, 11 June 2009

Epine Dorsal: Horseman Defense (Janisch Opening) (Petroff Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6

• This defense (also called the Russian Defense) has a reputation as a safe, symmetrical game played by those looking for a draw. This, I believe, is not entirely true. In addition to solid, positional players like Vladimir Kramnik, Boris Gelfand and Mickey Adams, it has attracted romantic adherants such as Frank Marshall and Alexei Shirov.

3.Nxe5

• The main alternative to the Janisch Opening is the Center Opening.
• If 3.d4 then:
• If 3...Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 then:
• If 5...Nd7 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...Bd6 8.c4 c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 then:
• If 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.Qh5 then:
• If 12...g6 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Bh6 then:
• If 14...Rfd8 then:
• If 15.h4 Be6 then:
• 16.Qg5 Qxc3 17.Rfd1 Bf8 18.Bxf8 is equal (Anand-Kranmik, Amber Blind, Nice, 2009).
• 16.Qf3 Qxc3 17.Bg5 Re8 18.Rfd1 Qc8 19.Bb5 Bg4 20.Qd5 Rd8 21.Bxd8 Qxd8 22.g3 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 draw (van der Weide-E. Atalik, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If 15.Qg5 Qxc3 16.Qf6 Bf8 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.Be4 then:
• If 18...Bc6 19.Rac1 Qb4 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Rxc6 Rad8 22.Rc7 Qxd4 23.Qxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxa7 Rd2 25.h4 Rc8 26.h5 gxh5 27.Ra5 Rc6 28.Rg5+ Rg6 29.Rxh5 Rxa2 30.Rb1 Kg7 draw (Berg-Gelfand, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 18...Rac8 19.Rfc1 Qa5 20.Bxb7 Be6 21.Bf3 Rfd8 22.h4 Qf5 23.Qxf5 draw (van der Wiel-Dorfman, Bundesliga, Germany, 1999).
• 14...Rfe8 15.h4 Be6 16.Qf3 Qxc3 17.Qf6 Bf8 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.Rfd1 Rad8 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.h5 gxh5 22.Qg5+ Kh7 23.Qxh5+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh7 25.Rac1 Qb4 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ draw (van der Weide-S. Atalik, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If 12...f5 then:
• 13.Qf3 Qa5 14.c4 Bb4 15.Rb1 Bc6 16.Bf4 b6 17.Be5 Rf7 18.Bxf5 Kh8 19.Qh5 Rxf5 20.Qxf5 dxc4 21.Qe6 Bb5 22.a3 Bd2 23.Qd5 Black resigns (Potkin-N. Kosintseva, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• 13.Re1 Qc7 14.Bd2 Rae8 15.Bc2 g6 16.Qf3 Re4 17.g3 Bb5 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.gxf4 Qd6 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.Qg3 Rxf4 22.Rab1 Bd7 is equal (Svidler-Ponomariov, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• If 10.Qh5 0-0 11.Qxd5 Bc6 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qh3 then:
• 13...Ng5 14.Qg4 Ne6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Nc3 Nxd4 17.Rad1 Be5 18.f4 f5 19.Qg3 Bf6 20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.Bg5 Bxg5 22.fxg5 Qb6 is equal (Oleksienko-Hera, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 13...Bb4 14.Be3 Re8 15.a3 Ba5 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Qh6 Bb6 18.Nc3 Nxf2 19.Bxf2 Bxd4 20.Rd1 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Qb6+ 22.Kf1 Qxb2 23.Qd2 Qxc3 draw (Svidler-Jussupow, Bad Homburg, 1998).
• If 7...Qh4 8.c4 0-0-0 9.c5 then:
• If 9...g6 10.Nc3 Bg7 then:
• If 11.g3 Qf6 12.Be3 Ng5 13.f4 Qe6 then:
• 14.Re1 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.d5 Qa6 17.Bd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 f5 19.a4 Rhf8 20.b4 Qf6 21.Qc4 gives White the advantage in space (Pineault-Kozlowicz, Corres, 1998).
• 14.Qd2 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.d5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qa6 18.Bd4 Rhe8 19.c6 bxc6 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Qe3 Qd3 22.Rfd1 Qxe3+ 23.Bxe3 a6 gives Black an extra pawn (P. H. Nielsen-Pavosavich, Op, Kecskemet, 1992).
• 11.Ne2 Rhe8 12.Be3 Ng5 13.Rc1 Bg4 14.c6 is equal (Bacerra-Ippolito, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• If 9...g5 10.Nc3 Bg7 then:
• If 11.g3 Qh3 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Bb5 then:
• 14.Bxg5 Rxd4 15.Bg2 Qf5 16.Qb3 c6 17.Be3 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Rhd8 19.Qc3 Rg4 20.Qa5 a6 21.Bh3 Rxg3+ 22.hxg3 Qxh3 23.Bf4 Qd7 24.Re1 Black resigns (P. H. Nielsen-Canibal, Cyberspace, 1999).
• 14.Bg2 Qf5 15.Be3 Bxf1 16.Bxf1 Rhe8 17.Qa4 Kb8 18.Rd1 c6 19.Rd3 Qe4 20.Ra3 a6 21.Bxa6 Rxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Bf1 Bxc5 24.Qxe4 Rxe4 25.Rf3 Ra4 draw (Pietrocola-Canibal, Cyberspace, 1998).
• 11.Ne2 Rhe8 12.Qe1 Nf6 13.a4 Ng4 14.h3 Bxd4 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.Nxd4 Rxe1 17.Rxe1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Schwartzman, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
• If 5...Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.c4 then:
• If 7...Bxe5 8.dxe5 Nc6 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Qc2 Nb4 11.Bxe4 Nxc2 12.Bxd5 Bf5 13.g4 Bxg4 14.Be4 Nxa1 then:
• If 15.Bf4 f5 16.Bd5+ Kh8 17.Rc1 c6 18.Bg2 Rfd8 19.Nd2 then:
• 19...h6 20.h4 Rd3 21.Bf1 Rd4 22.Be3 Rd5 23.Rxa1 Rxe5 24.Nc4 Rd5 25.Bg2 Rb5 26.Re1 Rd8 27.Bxa7 Rd1 28.Rxd1 Bxd1 29.Bd4 puts Black's Rook in an awkward position (Timman-Jussupow, IT, Linares, 1992).
• 19...Rxd2 20.Bxd2 Rd8 21.Bc3 Rd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxd1 23.f4 Nc2 24.Kf2 Kg8 25.a4 a5 26.Bxa5 Nd4 27.Bf1 Bb3 draw (Kasparov-Anand, IT, Linares, 1991).
• 15.Nc3 Bh3 16.Re1 f5 17.exf6 Rae8 18.Be3 Rxe4 19.Nxe4 Nc2 20.Rc1 Bf5 21.Rxc2 Bxe4 22.Rxc7 Rxf6 23.Bxa7 Rc6 24.Rxc6 Bxc6 25.h4 Kf7 26.Kh2 h5 draw (Rowson-Koneru, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).
• If 7...c6 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 then:
• If 9...Nd7 10.f4 f5 11.Qc2 Nf6 12.Bxf5 Bxf5 13.Qxf5 Bxe5 14.fxe5 Ne4 15.Qxf8+ Qxf8 16.Rxf8+ Rxf8 17.Ba3 Rf2 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.e6 the e-pawn gives White the advantage (Shirov-Eriksen, Sx, Bergen, 2001).
• 9...Bxe5 10.dxe5 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Qe7 12.a4 Rd8 13.Qh5 Re8 14.Ba3 Qd7 15.Rad1 Qf5 16.Qh4 Qxe5 17.f4 Qf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Rf3 Be6 20.Rg3+ Kh8 21.Be7 h5 22.Bxf6+ Black resigns as he cannot escape mate (Chigorin-Lebedev. Moscow, 1900).
• If 3...exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6 Nxd6 then:
• If 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Qf4 then:
• If 8...g6 then:
• If 9.Bd3 Bg7 then:
• 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 Be6 12.Rad1 Qf6 13.Qg3 h6 14.Bc5 Rfd8 15.Rfe1 Ne8 16.Nd2 Qg5 17.Qxg5 hxg5 18.Nde4 gives White a little more space and better pawn structure (Yanofsky-P. S. Milner-Barry, British Ch, Hastings, 1953).
• I10.Be3 Be6 11.0-0-0 Qf6 12.Qxf6 Bxf6 13.Ne4 Bg7 14.Nfg5 0-0 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Ng5 Rae8 17.Rhe1 Ne5 18.Kb1 Nxd3 19.Rxd3 Nc4 20.Bd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Nd6 22.Rd2 e5 23.Kc1 e4 draw (Parma-Trifunovic, IT, Bled, 1961).
• 9.Bd2 Qe7+ 10.Be2 Be6 11.0-0-0 Bg7 12.h4 h6 13.Rhe1 0-0-0 14.Bd3 Qf6 15.Qxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxg6 Rhg8 17.h5 Bg4 18.Bh7 Rh8 19.Bd3 Bxh5 20.Be2 is equal (Geller-Smyslov, Veterans Trmt, Moscow, 1991).
• If 8...Bf5 9.Bb5 Qe7+ 10.Be3 Nxb5 11.Nxb5 Qb4+ 12.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 13.c3 then:
• 13...Bd6 14.Nxd6+ cxd6 15.0-0-0 Be6 16.Rxd6 Bxa2 17.Bc5 0-0 18.Rxc6 bxc6 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 is equal (Matulovic-Kholmov, TMatch, Sochi, 1968).
• 13...Ba5 14.b4 Bd3 15.a4 a6 16.Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bb6 18.0-0-0 Bxd4 19.Rxd3 Bf6 20.Re1+ Kf8 21.Rd7 gives White a far more active game (Parma-Trifunovic, IT, Amsterdam, 1965).
• 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qf4 Be7 9.Nc3 Be6 10.Bd2 Qd7 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Be3 f5 13.Qa4 Bf6 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxa6 Bxc3 16.Bb5 Qe7 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.bxc3 White won in 41 moves (Kindermann-Tischbierek, Bundesliga, Germany, 1990).

3...d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4

• If 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 then:
• If 7.Bf4 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nc5 then:
• If 10.Be3 Re8 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.h4 Qd7 14.Qd3 Qc6 15.Qf5 then:
• 15...Qc4 16.Kb1 g6 17.Qh3 h5 18.Nd2 Qe2 19.Rde1 Qg4 20.Qh2 d5 21.f3 Qa4 is equal (Karjakin-Jakovenko, IT, Foros, 2008).
• 15...Nf8 16.h5 Qd7 17.Qd5 Qe6 18.c4 Qxd5 19.cxd5 Nd7 20.Nd4 Nf6 21.Nf5 Bf8 22.Bd4 Nxd5 23.Bxg7 Ne7 24.Nxe7+ Rxe7 draw (Svidler-Gelfand, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 10.Nd4 Re8 11.f3 Ne6 12.Be3 Bg5 13.Bxg5 Qxg5 14.Qxg5 Nxg5 15.Bc4 Ne6 16.Rhe1 Kf8 17.Nxe6+ Bxe6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Rxe6 fxe6 20.Kd2 Ke7 21.Ke3 Rf8 22.Rd4 Rf5 23.h4 a5 24.a4 Rh5 25.g3 Re5+ 26.Re4 Rd5 27.Rd4 Re5+ 28.Re4 Rd5 draw (Pentala-Mamedyarov, YM, Lausanne, 2005).
• If 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.0-0-0 Ne5 then:
• If 10.h4 Bg4 11.Be2 Qc8 then:
• If 12.h5 Re8 13.Kb1 then:
• 13...h6 14.Rde1 a6 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.f3 Be6 17.Bd3 Bf5 18.g4 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Qe6 20.Bc1 Bf6 21.Re4 Rad8 22.Qe2 Qd7 is equal (Jakovenko-Wang Hao, Team M, Nizhniy Novgorod, 2007).
• 13...a6 14.Rde1 Bf8 15.Rh4 Be7 16.Rhh1 Bf8 17.Rh4 draw (Inarkiev-Motylev, Russian Ch HL, 2005).
• 12.b3 Re8 13.Kb1 Bf8 14.h5 a6 15.Rde1 b5 16.Bf4 Nd7 is equal (Topalov-Kramnik, IT, Sofia, 2005).
• 10.Kb1 Be6 11.Nd4 Nc4 12.Qd3 Nxe3 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Qxe3 e5 15.Bd3 c6 16.h4 Qe8 17.h5 Rf6 18.Qe4 Rh6 19.f4 Bf6 20.g4 exf4 21.Qxf4 Qe5 22.Qb4 b5 23.Rhe1 Qc5 24.Qe4 Rf8 25.Qe6+ Kh8 26.Qf7 d5 27.Re8 Black resigns (Arakhamia-Levushkina, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 8...Be6 9.0-0-0 Qd7 10.Kb1 a6 11.h3 h6 12.g4 0-0-0 13.Bg2 g5 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qd2 Bf6 17.f4 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Qa4 19.b3 Qa5 20.c4 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Bg5 22.Rf1 Bxf4 23.Rxf4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Bologan-Belov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

5...d5 6.Bd3 Nc6

• If 6...Bd6 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 c6 then:
• If 9.Qc2 Na6 10.a3 then:
• If 10...Bg4 11.Ne5 then:
• If 11...Bxe5 12.dxe5 Nac5 13.f3 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Nc5 15.Qd4 Nb3 16.Qxg4 Nxa1 17.Bh6 g6 then:
• If 18.Nc3 Qb6+ 19.Rf2 Rfe8 20.Qf4 Qc7 21.Re2 Re6 22.Kf1 d4 23.Qxd4 draw (Ivanchuk-Alekseev, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 18.Bxf8 Qxf8 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Rc1 Nb3 21.Rc7 Nc5 22.Nc3 Ne6 23.Rd7 Qc5+ 24.Kf1 d4 25.Ne4 Qxe5 26.Qh4 Kg7 27.Qe7 Rf8 28.Rxb7 d3 29.h3 h5 30.Rd7 Kh6 31.Rxd3 Qxb2 draw (Maletin-Karpov, Op, Novosibirsk, 2001).
• 11...Bf5 12.b4 f6 13.Nf3 Qe8 14.b5 Qh5 15.bxa6 Bg4 16.Re1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qxh2+ 18.Kf1 f5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.fxe4 fxe4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Be3 Bg3 23.Ra2 Rf3 White resigns (Shirov-Bluvshtein, Op, Edmonton, 2005).
• If 10...f5 11.Nc3 Nc7 then:
• 12.b4 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 dxc4 14.Bxc4+ Be6 15.Bxe6+ Nxe6 16.Re1 Qd7 17.Ra2 Rae8 18.Rae2 Nc7 19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Re6 21.Rd2 Nd5 22.Qd4 a6 is equal (J. Polgar-Lautier, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2003).
• 12.c5 Be7 13.Ne2 Bf6 14.Ne5 Ne6 15.f4 g5 16.b4 Qc7 17.g3 gxf4 18.gxf4 Bd7 draw (Jobava-Lautier, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
• If 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 then:
• 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Bg4 12.Qd3 Nd7 13.Ng5 Nf6 14.h3 Bh5 15.f4 h6 16.g4 hxg5 17.fxg5 b5 18.Bb3 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Qd7 20.Qf5 Bxg4 21.Qxd7 Bxd7 22.Rxf7 Rxf7 23.g6 Be8 24.Be3 a5 25.Be6 Kf8 26.gxf7 Bxf7 uields an extra pawn to Black (Dr, Nunn-Salov, IT, Brussels, 1988).
• 10...Bg4 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Rb1 Nd7 13.h3 Bh5 14.Rb5 Nb6 15.c4 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 dxc4 17.Bc2 Qd7 18.a4 g6 19.Be3 Rac8 20.Rfb1 c3 21.a5 Nc4 22.Rxb7 Qe6 23.Ra1 Bb8 24.Bb3 Qd6 25.g3 Nxe3 26.Bxf7+ Kh8 27.Qxe3 gives White an extra pawn (Anand-Shirov, It, Linares, 2000).

7.0-0 Be7 8.c4

• If 8.Re1 Bg4 then:
• If 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 then:
• If 10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nxd4 12.Qd1 Ne6 then:
• If 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bb5+ c6 15.Nxd5 cxb5 16.Qb3 0-0 then:
• 17.Be3 Bc5 18.Rad1 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Qa5 20.Qc2 Rfe8 is equal (Leko-Gelfand, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009).
• If 17.Qxb5 Bc5 18.Rd1 then:
• 18...b6 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.Nxe3 Qe8 21.Qd5 Rc8 22.b4 Qa4 23.Qb3 Qxb3 24.axb3 Rc3 25.Ra3 Rfc8 26.Kf1 a5 27.bxa5 bxa5 28.Rxa5 draw (Khruschiov-Kuczynski, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• 18...Rc8 19.Be3 b6 20.Qa4 Bxe3 21.Nxe3 Qc7 22.Nd5 Qb7 23.Qe4 gives White a more active game (Slobodjan-Oral, World ChU20, Halle, 1995).
• 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Qxb5 a6 19.Qb3 Rfd8 20.Be3 Rac8 21.Rac1 h6 22.h3 Nd4 23.Bxd4 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Rxd4 25.Qc2 Qe4 26.Qxe4 Rxe4 27.Rc7 Re1+ 28.Kh2 b5 draw (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch, Moscow, 1984-85).
• If 13.Bf5 dxc4 14.Qa4+ c6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qxc4 0-0 17.Rxe6 Nd5 18.Be3 Bf6 19.Bc5 Re8 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.Qxd5+ Qf7 23.Qd2 Rd8 24.Qb4 Qxa2 25.Re1 b6 26.Be7 Re8 27.Bxf6 Rxe1+ 28.Qxe1 gxf6 29.Qb4 a5 draw (Morozevich-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• If 10...0-0 11.cxd5 Nxd5 then:
• If 12.h3 Be6 13.a3 Bf6 14.Ne4 Bf5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Ne4 draw (Balashov-Bronstein, City Ch, Moscow, 1982).
• If 12.Be4 Be6 13.Qc2 h6 then:
• 14.Bf5 Ncb4 15.Qb1 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Bf6 17.a3 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Nd5 19.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space (Machulsky-Jussupow, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1978).
• 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bf5 Ncb4 16.Qb1 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Qc8 18.Qh5 Nf6 19.Qh4 Bd8 20.Re2 Qf5 21.Qf4 Qxf4 22.Bxf4 Nbd5 23.Be5 gives White the active game (Psakhis-Jussupow, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1978).
• If 9.c3 f5 10.Qb3 0-0 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Qa4 Nc6 13.Bb5 then:
• If 13...Nxd2 14.Nxd2 Qd6 15.h3 Bh5 16.Nb3 Bh4 17.Nc5 gives White the advantage in space (Anand-Kramnik, IT, Tilburg, 1998).
• If 13...Bh4 14.g3 Bf6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qxc6 then:
• If 16...Rb8 17.c4 f4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qxe4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 fxg3 21.hxg3 Bxd4 22.Bf4 Rxb2 23.Rf1 Rxf2 24.Rxf2 Bxa1 25.Kg2 Be5 26.Qe4 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 gives Black an extra pawn, but the game contains the germ of a draw (Cheparinov-Gelfand, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 16...Re8 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Ng5 19.f4 Re6 20.Qc5 Ne4 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Be3 a6 23.Qc4 Qd7 24.Rac1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Shirov-Kramnik, Euro Ch, Belgrade, 1999).

8...Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5

• 10...Be6 11.Ne5 f6 12.Nf3 Kh8 13.Re1 c5 14.cxd5 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Nxd5 16.c4 Nc3 17.Qd3 cxd4 18.Bf1 Bf7 19.Nxd4 Bb4 20.a3 Ba5 21.Nb3 Qxd3 22.Bxd3 Bb6 23.a4 Rfd8 24.Bf1 Nd1 is equal (Malakhov-Motylev, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).

11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.Bf4

• If 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 then:
• If 16.h3 Be4 17.a4 Bd6 18.Be3 Qa5 19.Qb3 Qf5 20.Nd2 Na5 21.Qb2 Bc6 22.c4 Qg6 23.Bf1 b6 is equal (Smirin-An. Volokitin, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 16.Bd3 Qd7 17.Rb1 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 b6 19.d5 Bf6 20.c4 then:
• If 20...h6 21.h4 Ne7 22.Rbd1 Ng6 23.Bg3 h5 24.Rc1 Bb2 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 is equal (J. Polgar-Anand, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• 20...Ne7 21.Rbd1 Rcd8 22.h3 Ng6 23.Bg3 h6 24.Qb3 Re7 25.a4 Rde8 26.Rxe7 Nxe7 is equal (Leko-Kramnik, IT, Dortmund, 2007).

14...Rc8 15.c5!?

• 15.cxd5 Qxd5 transposes into the previous note.

15...Bf6

• The game is equal.

16.Qa4 a6

• 16...Re4 17.Bg3 a6 18.Qc2 Na5 19.Qa2 Re6 20.Bf1 remains equal.

17.Bf1 Qd7 18.Qb3 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Rb8 20.Bg5

• If 20.Qd1 Be4 21.Qe2 then:
• 21...Re8 22.Nd2 Re7 23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.Be3 Bg5 25.Qb2 gives White more activity.
• 21...Be7 22.Qe3 Rc8 23.Ne5 Nxe5 24.Bxe5 gives White more freedom and space.

20...Bxg5 21.Nxg5 b5 22.Nf3 Qd8

• 22...Be4 23.Nd2 Bg6 24.g3 Ne7 25.a4 c6 remains equal.

23.Qa2 Be4 24.Nd2 Bg6 25.g3

• 25.a4 b4 26.Qb3 bxc3 27.Qxc3 Nb4 28.a5 remains equal.

25...Na5 26.a4 c6 27.Nf3 Nc4 28.axb5!?

• White misses a chance to get a really good game by palying the center.
• 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Ne5 Qc7 30.Qd2 a5 31.Qf4 gives White the advantage in space.

28...axb5 29.Qa7

• White's plan initiated on the 28th move is to is to use the open files on which his heavy pieces were already situated to raid the seventh rank. This plan is pedestrian and is easily refuted by Black's defensive resources.

BLACK: Vugar Gashimov
!""""""""#
$ T W +l+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 29.Qa2a7

29...Ra8!

• This simple stroke begins Black's counterattack.

30.Qb7 Na5 31.Qb6 f6 32.Ra1

• If 32.Nh4 Bc2 33.Bh3 then:
• 33...Qxb6 34.cxb6 Rb8 35.Re7 Rxb6 36.Be6+ Kf8 is equal.
• 33...Rb8?! 34.Qxd8+ Rxd8 35.Re7 gives White more activity in spite of the Queen exchange.

32...Nc4 33.Qxd8+ Rxd8 34.Ra6 Be8

• If 34...Be4 35.Bxc4 then:
• If 35...Bxf3 36.Bd3 Rc8 37.Kf1 then:
• 37...g6 38.h4 f5 39.Ke1 h6 40.Kd2 Kf7 41.Ke3 gives White the more active King.
• 37...Be4 38.Bxe4 dxe4 39.Ke2 gives White more reserve pawn tempi.
• 35...dxc4 36.Nd2 Bd5 37.Ra1 Rb8 is equal.

35.Ne1!?

• By retreating a second piece to the back rank, White pacifies his own position.
• Better is the more active 35.Bd3 g5 36.h4 g4 when:
• If 37.Ne1 h5 38.Bxc4 bxc4 39.Nc2 Bg6 40.Nb4 then:
• 40...Re8 41.f3 Re3 42.fxg4 hxg4 43.Kf2 Rf3+ 44.Ke2 each side will soon have passed pawns on the queenside, but White's stands a better chance of promoting.
• If 40...Kf7 then White begins pressing his advantage home after 41.Rxc6 Be4 42.Rc7+ Ke6 43.Ra7 Re8 44.c6.
• If 37.Nh2 h5 38.f3 gxf3 39.Bxc4 bxc4 40.Nxf3 Rb8 is equal.

35...Nb2

• Black has equalized.

36.Nc2 Na4

• If 36...Rb8?! 37.Nb4 Na4 38.Nxc6 Bxc6 39.Rxc6 gives Black an extra pawn.

37.Nb4 Rc8 38.Na2 Rc7

BLACK: Vugar Gashimov
!""""""""#
$ + +v+k+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 38...Rc8c7

39.f3!?

• Again, White fails to make the most of his initiative.
• 39.Bd3 Nb2 40.Bc2 h6 41.Nb4 Nc4 42.h4 gives White more freedom and maintains the initiative.

39...Bg6?!

• Black misses a big opportunity.
• 39...Re7 40.c4 dxc4 41.Bxc4+ bxc4 42.Rxa4 Re1+ the game is again equal.

40.Nb4 Be8 41.Na2

• The game is equal.
• If 41.c4 dxc4 then:
• If 42.Bxc4+ bxc4 43.Rxa4 then:
• 43...Rd7 44.Nxc6 Rxd4 45.Nxd4 Bxa4 46.c6 c3 47.c7 Bd7 48.Kf2 is equal.
• 43...Rb7?! 44.Kf2 Bd7 45.Ke3 Rc7 46.Ra6 Kf8 47.Kd2 wins a pawn for White.
• If 42.Ra8?! thenm Black covers his weak points by 42...Kf8 43.Kf2 Nc3 44.Bg2 Kf7 45.f4 f5 with equality.

41...Bd7

• 41...Bg6 42.Rxc6 Rxc6 43.Bxb5 Re6 44.Bxa4 Re1+ 45.Kf2 gives White a passed pawn.

42.Kf2

• After 42.Bd3 Nb2 43.Bc2 f5 44.f4 Bc8 45.Ra8 Kf7 White is more active, but has to wait for Black to make a mistake in order to make anything of it.

42...Bc8 43.Ra8 Kf7 44.Ke3!?

BLACK: Vugar Gashimov
!""""""""#
$r+v+ + +%
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WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 44.Kf2e3

• The game is now equal.
• If 44.Bd3 h5 45.Bc2 Nb2 46.h4 then:
• If 46...g5 then after 47.Nb4 Nc4 48.Bd3 Nb2 49.Be2 gxh4 50.gxh4 White continues to be more active, but without a winning advantage.
• If 46...g6 then after 47.Nb4 Bb7 48.Rh8 Kg7 49.Re8 White is more active and has command of the e-file.

44...Bb7 45.Rb8

• 45.Ra7 Re7+ 46.Kd2 Nb2 47.Nb4 Ke6 48.h3 g5 remains equal.

45...Bc8!?

• Black blocks the Rook from moving to h8, but White may have other ideas.
• 45...g5 46.Bd3 Re7+ 47.Kd2 Kg7 48.Nb4 remains equal.

46.Kd2

• White frees his Knight for a more active post.

46...Nb2 47.Nb4 Nc4+

• If 47...Bb7!? then after 48.f4 f5 49.Rxb7 Rxb7 50.Nxc6 Kf6 51.Nb4 White wins another pawn.

48.Kc1 Ne3 49.Be2 Bd7 50.Ra8

• If 50.Rb6! then:
• If 50...Nc4 51.Bxc4 bxc4 52.Na6 Ra7 53.Nb8 gives White more activity.
• 50...h5 51.Kd2 Nc4+ 52.Bxc4 bxc4 53.Na6 gives White the active game.

50...Nf5

• After 50...Bc8 51.Kd2 Nc4+ 52.Bxc4 bxc4 53.Rb8 Bb7 54.f4 White has the active game.

51.Na6 Rb7

• If 51...Rc8?! 52.Ra7! Ke8 53.Bd3 then:
• 53...g6 54.Bxf5 gxf5 55.Nb4 Ke7 56.Kd2 leaves pieces tied to the defense of the c-pawn.
• 53...Ne3 54.Bxh7! Nf1 55.Bg6+ leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 53...h6? 54.Rxd7!! Kxd7 55.Bxf5+ Kd8 56.Bxc8 Kxc8 wins a piece for White.

52.Kb2 Ne7

BLACK: Vugar Gashimov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 52...Nf5e7

53.Kb3

• If 53.Nb4 Bf5 54.Ra6 then:
• If 54...Rc7 55.f4 Be4 56.Bh5+ g6 57.Be2 White has more reserve pawn tempi, which might make a difference later.
• If 54...Bd7?! then after 55.Bd3 f5 56.h4 Ke6 57.Rb6! White either wins a pawn (57...Rc7 58.Bxc5) or gains a passer (57...Rxb6 58.cxb6).

53...Bc8

• Black prevents the Rook from going to h8.

54.Bd3

• White takes aim at the h-pawn another way.

54...g6 55.Nb4 Rc7 56.g4 h6 57.h4 g5 58.h5

• 58.hxg5!? hxg5 59.Bc2 Ng6 60.Ra1 Nf8 61.Rh1 Bb7 is drawish.

58...Kg7 59.Na6 Rb7 60.Kb4!?

• White's plan is to bring the King up to attack Black's queenside pawns.
• If 60.Be2 then:
• If 60...Kf7 then White maneuvers to active his King in the center by 61.Nb4 Rc7 62.Nd3 Bd7 63.Kc2 Nc8 64.Kd2.
• If 60...f5 then White centralizes his Knight with 61.Nb4 Be6 62.Nd3 Rc7 63.Ne5.

60...f5?

• Black tries to break up White's kingside in the hopes of capturing the pawns and advancing his own.
• 60...Be6 61.Rb8 Ra7 62.Rb6 Bd7 restricts the mobility of White's Rook.

61.Bxf5 Bxf5 62.gxf5 Nxf5 63.Ka5!

• White's King penetrates deeper into the queenside and clears b4 for the Knight..

63...Nh4

• Black wins the f-pawn.

64.Nb4

• ... and White wins the c-pawn.

64...Nxf3 65.Nxc6 g4

• If 65...Rf7 66.Nb4 g4 67.Nxd5 g3 68.Ne3 then:
• If 68...Nh4 69.Kxb5 Rf3 then:
• 70.Re8! Kf7 71.Re5 g2 72.Nxg2 Nxg2 73.d5 White's three pawns win over Black's Knight.
• 70.c6? proves premature after 70...Rxe3 71.c7 Rxc3! 72.c8Q Rxc8 73.Rxc8 g2 when Black has excellent winning chances.
• If 68...Ne1 69.Ra6 Rf3 70.Rg6+ Kh7 71.Nd5 then:
• If 71...b4 72.c6 then:
• If 72...bxc3 then 73.c7 Rf8 74.Nf6+ Kh8 75.Rg8+ Rxg8 76.Nxg8 Kxg8 77.c8Q+ wins for White.
• If 72...Rf8 then 73.Nf6+ Kh8 74.Rg8+ Rxg8 75.Nxg8 Kxg8 76.c7 wins for White.
• If 71...g2 then 72.c6 Rf5 73.c7 Rf8 74.Kxb5 Rc8 75.Nf6+ wins for White.

BLACK: Vugar Gashimov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Motylev
Position after 65...g5g4

66.Ne5!!

• Black has no choice but to take the Knight, giving White a second passer.

66...Nxe5 67.dxe5 g3 68.c6 Rf7

• No better is 68...Re7 69.Kb6 g2 70.Ra1 Rxe5 71.Rg1 Re3 72.Rxg2+.

69.e6 Rf2

• This is equivalent to waving the white flag.
• Black puts up a more stubborn defense with 69...Re7 70.Kxb5 g2 71.Ra1 Kf6 72.c4 d4 73.Rg1, but in the end the game still belongs to White.

70.Ra7+ Kf6 71.e7 Ra2+ 72.Kb4 Re2

• It would be just ugly for Black to continue after 72...Rxa7 73.e8Q Ra2 74.c7.

73.c7 Re4+ 74.Kb3 Rxe7 75.Ra6+ 1-0

• The pawn must queen.
• Gashimov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Gashimov - Naditsch, Round 7

Vugar Gashimov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Vugar Gashimov - Arkadij Naiditsch
10th Karpov IT, Round 7
Poikovsky, 10 June 2009

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Berlin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6

• This is the most popular alternative to 3...a6 at present.

4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ne7

• If 9...Ke8 10.h3 Be7 then:
• If 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 then:
• If 13.Rd1 Be7 14.Kg2 h5 15.f3 Be6 16.Ne2 Rd8 17.Be3 a6 18.Nf4 g6 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Rd1+ then:
• 20...Ke8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.f4 Rh7 23.Bf2 Rh8 reduces Black to passivity while White improves his position (Leko-Wang Yue, Amber Blaind, Nice, 2009). Nevertheless, the game ended in a draw.
• 20...Kc8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.f4 b5 23.b3 Rh7 24.Bf2 hxg4 25.hxg4 Rh8 26.Rh1 Rxh1 27.Kxh1 gives White musch better pawn structure for the ending (Jakovenko-Wang Yue, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008). Rhis time, White won.
• 13.Kg2 h5 14.f3 Be6 15.Be3 Be7 16.Ne2 Rd8 is equal (Adams-Wang Yue, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 11.Bg5 Bxg5 12.Nxg5 h6 then:
• 13.Nf3 h5 14.Rad1 Ke7 15.Ng5 Be6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rd3 Rad8 18.Rfd1 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 h4 20.Ne4 gives White the active game and better pawn structure (Shirov-Alekseev, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 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, Rpd Trmt, León, 2002).

10.Ne4

• If 10.h3 then:
• If 10...Ng6 then:
• If 11.Ne4 h6 then:
• If 12.b3 then:
• If c5 13.Bb2 Be6 then:
• 14.Nfd2 h5 15.Ng5 Be7 16.Nxe6+ fxe6 17.g3 gives White more freedom and better pawn structure (Jakovenko-Cheparinov, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 14.c4 Be7 15.Rad1+ Kc8 16.Ne1 Nf4 17.Nd3 Nxd3 18.Rxd3 g5 19.Nf6 Bxf6 20.exf6 a5 21.a4 Ra6 22.Bc3 Rd8 23.Rfd1 Rad6 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 cxd6 26.Bxa5 Bf5 27.g4 Bc2 is equal (Wagener-O. Sepps, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 12...a5 13.a4 c5 14.Bb2 Be6 15.Nfd2 Nf4 16.Kh2 g6 17.Nc4 Kd7 18.g3 Nd5 19.f4 gives White more freedom (A. Volokitin-Eljanov, IT, Foros, 2006).
• 12.Re1 Ke8 13.Bd2 c5 14.Rad1 Be6 15.a3 Rd8 16.Ng3 Bd5 17.Nh2 Nh4 18.f3 Be6 19.Ng4 Nf5 20.Nxf5 Bxf5 21.Ne3 gives White more activity (A. Volokitin-Alekseev, IT, Foros, 2008).
• 11.Bg5+ Ke8 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.Rd2 Be7 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 15.Nd4 Rhd8 16.f4 c5 17.Nb3 Bc6 18.Re2 b6 19.f5 Nh4 20.Rf4 gives White more activity (Ivanchuk-Z. Almasi, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 10...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).

10...Ng6 11.b3

• This move was introduced to master play by Gashimov in an earlier round. He won that game, too.
• 11.h3 Ke8 12.Re1 h6 13.Bd2 c5 14.Rad1 Be6 15.a3 Rd8 16.Ng3 Bd5 is equal (Volokitin-Alekseev, IT, Foros, 2008).

11...h6!?

• If 11...Ke8 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...Bf5 13.Rfe1 Nf4 14.g3 Ne6 15.Nh4 Bg4 16.f3 Bh5 17.f4 Rd8 gives White a better center (Gashimov-Onischuk, IT Rd 3, Poikovsky, 2009).
• Fritz suggests 12...Bg4 when:
• 13.Nfd2 Rd8 14.a3 Nf4 15.f3 Bf5 16.Rad1 gives White a solid center.
• If 13.Nd4 then:
• 13...Rd8 14.f3 Bc8 15.Ne2 Be7 16.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 13...Nxe5?! then after 14.Rae1! Kd8 15.f4 c5 16.fxe5 cxd4 17.Ng5 White gets his pawn back with a fierce initiative.

12.Bb2

• White has the advantage in space.

12...Bf5?

• Black misses an opportunity to equalize. He spends the next several moves struggling to put out fires, but before long his position is engulfed in flames.
• 13.Nfd2 Kc8 14.f3 Bf5 15.Rad1 Be7 is equal.

13.Ng3 Bd7 14.Rad1 c5

• 14...Ke8 15.h3 Rd8 16.c4 Be7 17.a3 c5 18.Ne4 maintains White's advantage in space,

15.e6!

• White sacrifices a pawn to break up Black's kingside and conjur up some threats.

15...fxe6 16.Rfe1 Kc8

• Black moves his King away out of the line of fire.

BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vugar Gashimov
Position after 16...Kd8c8


17.Rd2!

• White prepares to double his Rooks on the d-file, threatening to raid the seventh and wighth ranks.
• If 17.c4 then:
• 17...Rg8 18.Re3 Nf4 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Ne5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 17...a5 18.h4 Rg8 19.h5 Nf4 20.Be5 g5 is equal.

17...b5

• Black will attempt to use his queenside majority, albeit a crippled majority, to his advantage.
• An alternate plan is to develop the kingside pieces for play in the center.
• 17...Rg8 18.Red1! Bd6 19.Ne4 then:
• 19...Bc6 20.Nxd6+ cxd6 21.Rxd6 Bxf3 22.gxf3 Nf4 23.Be5 g5 24.Rd7 leaves White's pieces much better coordinated.
• If 19...a6 20.Nxd6+ cxd6 21.Rxd6 Bc6 22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 White threatens two pawns.

18.Red1 Bc6 19.Rd8+

• 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 b4 21.Nh5 Kb7 22.c4 White has a small advantage in space.

19...Kb7 20.Rxa8

• The text is better than 20.Ne5 Rxd8 21.Rxd8 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Rg8 23.c4 , but even then White remains more active.

20...Kxa8 21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.Rd8+!

• The most active move drives White's advantage to material.
• 22.Bxe5?! h5 23.c4 then:
• 23...bxc4 24.bxc4 Kb7 25.Rd8 h4 26.Ne2 Rh5 equalizes.
• 23...a6?! 24.Ne2 bxc4 25.Rd8+ Kb7 26.bxc4 Be4 27.Nf4! wins material for White.

22...Kb7 23.Bxe5 a5

• 23...Bd6 24.Rxh8 Bxe5 25.c4 a6 26.f3 b4 27.Ne4 gives White a small material advantage.

24.Nf1 h5 25.h4 Rg8 26.Bf4 e5

• If 26...Be4 27.Ne3 b4 28.Rd7 then:
• 28...Bd6 29.Bxd6 Kc6 30.Rxc7+ Kxd6 31.Ra7 wins a pawn for White.
• 28...Kc8? 29.Rxc7+ Kd8 30.Ra7 also wins a pawn.

27.Be3!

• 27.Bxe5 g5 28.Ne3 gxh4 29.Kf1 b4 leaves Black a pawn to the good, although White's Rook is easily the best piece on the board.

27...Be4

• If 27...Kb6 (necessary to prevent White's next move in the text) 28.Rb8+ Bb7 29.Nd2 Rh8 30.b4 then:
• 30...Ka6 31.c4 c6 32.cxb5+ cxb5 33.bxc5 Ka7 34.Rd8 wins for Black, who is threatening 35.c6+.
• If 30...axb4 then after 31.Nb3 g5 32.Rxf8!! Rxf8 33.Bxc5+ White emerges a piece to the good.

BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch
!""""""""#
$ + R Vt+%
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WHITE: Vugar Gashimov
Position after 27...Bc6e4

28.Bxc5!

• White wins the exchange.

28...Bxc5 29.Rxg8 Bxc2 30.Rxg7 Bb1

• Black has nothing better.

31.g4 Bxa2

• 31...hxg4 32.a4 bxa4 33.bxa4 Bc2 34.Rxg4 gives White excellent chances of escorting the h-pawn home.

32.gxh5 Bf8

• 32...Bxb3 33.h6 Bc2 34.h7 forces Black to give up a Bishop to stop the pawn.

33.Rf7

• 33.Rg8 Bh6 34.Rg6 Bc1 35.h6 is also good.

33...Bh6 34.Rf6 Bc1 35.h6 Bb1

BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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WHITE: Vugar Gashimov
Position after 35...Ba2b1

36.Ne3!

• Shielding the pawn from the Bishop announces the plan of pushing the pawn forward after playing the Rook to f7.

36...Bxe3 37.fxe3 a4 38.bxa4 b4

• Faint as it is, the b-pawn is Black's last best hope.

39.Rf1 Bd3 40.Rc1 1-0

• 40...Ka6 41.Rc6+ Kb7 42.Rc5 b3 43.Rc3 b2 44.Rb3+ kills Black's last best hope.
• Herr Naiditsch resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Naiditsch - Motylev, Round 6

Alexander Motylev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Arkadij Naiditsch - Alexander Motylev
10th Karpov International Tournament, Round 6
Poikovsky, 9 June 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6

• 4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0 11.Qd2 Qc7 is equal.

5.c4 Nc6 6.Qe3 g6 7.Nc3

• If 7.Be2 then:
• If 7...Bg7 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.h3 Be6 11.Rb1 then:
• 11...Rc8 12.b3 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc5 14.Rbc1 Nd7 15.Ng5 Qxe3 16.Bxe3 Nc5 is equal (Antonio-Le Quang Liem, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• 11...Nd7 12.b3 Qb6 13.Qd2 Nd4 14.Bb2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Ne5 16.Be2 Nc6 17.Rfd1 Rfe8 18.Bf1 Rac8 19.Kh1 Qa5 20.f4 is equal (Hou Yifan-Harika, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• 7...Bg4 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.Rd5 Qc7 11.Na3 Nf6 12.Rd1 is equal (Rombadoni-S. Williams, Op, Reykjavik, 2009).

7...Bh6 8.Qd3 Bg7

• 8...Bxc1 9.Rxc1 Bg4 10.Nd4 Nf6 11.Nc2 0-0 12.Qe3 Qa5 13.a3 Rac8 14.f4 Qh5 15.b4 e5 16.h3 Be6 is equal (Ljubojevic-Browne, IT, Madrid, 1973).

9.Be2 Bg4 10.0-0!?

• White introduces a new move which gives him the advantage in space.
• 10.b3 Nf6 11.Bb2 0-0 12.0-0 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ne5 14.Qe3 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Nd7 draw (López-Savchenko, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

10...Nf6 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Rc8 13.Rd1

• 13.Nd5 Nd7 14.Rd1 Nd4 15.Qd3 Nc5 16.Qd2 Nxe4 gives Black an extra pawn.

13...Ne5 14.Qe3 Nxc4

• 14...Qa5 15.b3 b5 16.f4 b4 17.Nd5 is equal.

15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.e5 Nd7 17.exd6 e6 18.Qe2

• The game is now equal.
• If 18.Nd5 0-0 19.Ne7+ Kh8 20.Qe2 then:
• 20...Ra4 21.Qc2 Qa5 22.Bd2 gives White the initiative.
• 20...Rd4 21.Be3 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Qa5 23.a3 gives White more power through the center.

18...Rc6 19.Ne4 0-0 20.Be3 Qa5

• 20...f5 21.Ng5 Qf6 22.Rac1 Rfc8 23.Rxc6 Rxc6 24.Bf4 gives White the initiative.

21.Bd4 Rfc8 22.b4 Qb5!?

• The pawn isn't poisoned. Black should take it.
• 22...Qxb4 23.Rab1 Qa4 24.Bxg7 Rc2 25.Qf3 Kxg7 26.Rxb7 gives White a small advantage in space.

23.Qe3?!

• White has an advanced passed pawn and might benefit from reducing the material on the board and creating weaknesses in Black's position.
• Based on that assessment, the indicated move is 23.Qxb5! when after 23...axb5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.a3 Rc2 26.g4 White has a more active game.

BLACK: Alexander Motylev
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 23.Qe2e3

23...e5!

• Suddenly, Black has the better center in the person of a well fortified pawn.

24.Bc5 Qc4 25.Nc3 b6 26.Nd5 bxc5 27.Rac1 Qh4

• The game is equal.
• If 27...Qxa2 28.Ne7+ then:
• 28...Kh8 29.Nxc6 Rxc6 30.Qf3 Qa4 31.Qxf7 is equal.
• If 28...Kf8 then after 29.bxc5 Qa4 30.Nxc8 Rxc8 31.c6 White's pawn duo is a big problem for Black.

28.Ne7+ Kf8

• 28...Kh8? 29.Nxc6 Rxc6 30.Qf3! e4 31.Qxf7 Qd8 32.Rc4! gives White a powerful initiative.

29.Nxc6 Rxc6 30.bxc5

• Material is asymmetrically balanced.

30...Bh6!?

• Has Black skewered the exchange?

BLACK: Alexander Motylev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 30...Bg7h6

31.Qf3!

• White sidesteps the problem and maintains material balance.

31...e4 32.Rc4

• If 32.Qc3 then:
• 32...Kg8! 33.Rb1 Rxc5 34.Rb8+ Nxb8 35.Qxc5 e3 is equal.
• 32...Bg7? 33.Qb4 Qd8 34.Qxe4 Rxc5 35.Rxc5 Nxc5 36.Qc6 gives White the initiative.

32...exf3 33.Rxh4 Bg5 34.Rc4 fxg2 35.Kxg2 Bd8

• 35...Rxc5 36.Rxc5 Nxc5 37.Rd5 Ne6 38.Ra5 Ke8 allows Black to set up a blockade on the d-file.

36.Rdc1 f5 37.f4!?

• If 37.h4 Bf6 38.h5 Bb2 39.Rb1 then:
• 39...Ba3 40.Rb7 Nxc5 41.Rb8+ remains equal.
• 39...Bg7 40.Rb7 Rxc5 41.Ra4 Ke8 42.Rxa6 remains equal.

BLACK: Alexander Motylev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 37.f2f4

37...Kf7

• White misses the opportunity to win a pawn.
• If 37...Bf6! then after 38.Kf3 Kf7 39.a4 Ke6 40.R4c2 Bd4 Black wins the c-pawn.

38.Kf3 h6

• If 38...Bf6 then 39.Ke3 prevents Black from playing ...Bd4 as in the previous note.

39.R4c2 a5 40.a3

• Since Black's Bishop is dark-bound, one might think it would be better for White to keep his pawns on light squares where possible.
• Nevertheless, 40.a4? Bf6 then:
• 41.Kg2 Bd4 42.Re2 Nxc5! 43.Re7+ Kf6 44.Rc7 Rxd6 gives Black a strong game with the lines of communication cut between White's Rooks.
• 41.Rc4 Ke6 42.R4c2 Bd4 43.Rg2 Kf6 44.Re2 Nxc5 gives Black the material edge.

40...Kf6

• If 40...g5 41.fxg5 Bxg5! then:
• 42.Rb1 Nxc5 43.Rb5 Nb3 44.Rxc6 Nd4+ wins a pawn.
• 42.Re1 Bf6 43.Kf4 Bh4 44.Rb1 Nxc5 wins a pawn.

41.h4?

• With his c-pawn teetering dizzily on a precipice, White puts his h-pawn in the line of fire of Black's Bishop.
• 41.a4 Ke6 42.Re2+ Kf7 43.Rec2 Bf6 then:
• 44.Rb1! Nxc5 45.Rbc1 Bd4 46.d7 Ke7 47.Rc4 is equal.
• If 44.Ke3? then after 44...g5 45.Rb1 Ke6 46.Rb5 gxf4+ 47.Kxf4 Bd4 White's pawns fall.

41...h5

• If 41...Kf7 42.h5 gxh5 43.Rc4 then:
• 43...h4 44.Kg2 Ke6 45.R4c2 Bf6 White.s c-pawn must fall.
• 43...Ke6 44.R4c2 Bf6 45.Re1+ Kf7 gives Black a small material advantage.

42.Re1

• 42.Kg3 Ke6 43.Kh3 Bf6 44.Re1+ Kf7 45.Rd1 Rxc5 wins a pawn.

42...Kf7 43.Rb2 Nxc5

• The c-pawn falls. White's must stake his chances on promoting the d-pawn.

44.Rd1

• Normally, the sensible thing to do is put a Rook behing the passed pawn, but not here. That the pawn could be promoted is a dubious proposition given that Black can block every square on the pawn's path. Therefore, White must try to clear the path before supporting the pawn.
• 44.Rc1 Rb6 45.Rxb6 Bxb6 46.Rd1 Nd7 47.Re1 Bd8 wins for Black. It would appear that White's game is already lost.

BLACK: Alexander Motylev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 44.Re1d1

44...Rb6!

• Black forces an exchange that does nothing to advance the d-pawn.

45.Rxb6 Bxb6 46.Rb1

• 46.d7 Ne6 47.Rb1 Bc7 48.Rg1 Bd8 then:
• 49.Rb1 Nf8 50.Rb8 Ke7 the d-pawn falls.
• 49.Rd1 Ke7 50.Rd5 Nf8 51.Rd1 Nxd7 makes Black's victory that much easier.

46...Nd7 47.Re1 Bd8 48.Rc1 Bxh4

• White will have an easier time stopping Black's h-pawn than in regaining any lost material.

49.Rc7 Ke6 50.Ra7 Bd8 51.Ra8 Bb6

• All of Black's pieces and pawns are safe.

52.Rg8

• If 52.Rh8 Nf6 then:
• 53.a4 Bc5 54.Rh6 Kf7 55.d7 Nxd7 Black wins easily.
• 53.Rh6 Kf7 54.Rh8 Bc5 55.d7 Nxd7 56.Ra8 Bxa3 gives Black a theoretical three-pawn advantage.

52...Kf7 53.Ra8 Ke6 54.Rg8 Bc5

• Also good is 54...Kf6 55.Rh8 Bc5 56.Rd8 Ke6 57.Rg8 Bxa3.

55.Rxg6+ Nf6 56.d7 Be7 57.Ke3

• If 57.a4 then after 57...Kxd7 58.Rh6 Ke6 59.Rg6 Bc5 60.Rg3 Bd4 Black's King migrates to the queenside to capture White's a-pawn.

57...Kxd7 58.Kd4 Ke6 59.a4 Bd6 0-1

• If 60.Ke3 Bf8 61.Kf3 Be7 62.Rg5 h4 then:
• 63.Rg6 Bb4 64.Kg2 Bc3 65.Rh6 Kd5 66.Kf3 Kc4 wins for Black.
• 63.Rg1 Ne4 64.Rg8 Kd7 65.Ra8 Bd8 Black wins.
• Herr Naiditsch resigns.

[cboy4]

18. After taking a look at that photograph, one has to wonder whether there's

ever been more virgins gathered in one location! :wow:

Yah know?

[Jack Rabbit]

20. See post 16

!!

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Sigeman & Co International Tournament, Malmø

Castle, Malmø
Photo: Laser International

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Short - Grandelius, Round 3

Nigel Short won this year's tournament in Malmø with 4½ points in 5 rounds.

Here he make short work of 16-year-old Swedish IM Nils Grandelius, who finished second.



Nigel Short
Photo: http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2164">ChessBase.com


Nigel Short - Nils Grandelius
17th Sigeman & Co International Toutnament, Round 3
Malmø, 5 June 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qf3 Nbd7 7.Be2 g6!?

• This novelty is too sharp hor Black's own good.
• 7...e6 8.g4 Qb6 9.Nb3 Qc7 10.g5 Ne5 11.Qh3 Nfd7 12.f4 is equal (van Veen-van Oosterom, Op, Amsterdam, 2006).

8.Be3

• Without development completed, but with the theoretical part of a small game finished early, White has the advantage in space.

8...Bg7 9.h3 Ne5 10.Qg3 b5 11.f4 Nc4 12.Bxc4

• 12.0-0-0 b4 13.Nd5 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bb7 is equal.

12...bxc4 13.f5 Bb7 14.Qh4 Qa5 15.0-0

• 15.0-0-0 Rb8 16.a3 Ba8 17.Rhe1 Qc7 18.Kb1 Qb6 gives Black the active game.

15...0-0 16.Rad1 Rae8 17.fxg6

• If 17.Rf3 Rb8 then:
• If 18.Rdf1 Ba8 19.Rb1 Rxb2 20.Rxb2 Qxc3 Black wins material.
• 18.Bf2 Qb4 19.Rb1 Ba8 20.a3 Qa5 21.Re3 Nd7 gives Black more activity.

17...hxg6?!

• Black voluntarily opens the king's wing to a building White attack.
• If 17...fxg6 then:
• 18.Ne6 Rf7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 c3 21.Ng5! gives White a small advantage in space, but the h-file is still secure gor Black.
• 18.Nf5?? simply loses a piece to 18...gxf5 19.Rxf5 Qb4.

BLACK: Nils Grandelius
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Nigel Short
Position after 17...hg6:p

18.Nf5!!

• White opens up the game, but if Black opens the long diagonal, can't he make something of that?
• If 18.Nf3 Qh5 19.Qf4 Rb8 then:
• 20.Nd2 Rfc8 21.Ba7 Ra8 22.Be3 a5 is equal.
• 20.e5 Ne4 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 e6 23.Ra5 is equal.

18...gxf5 19.Rxf5!

• White recovers a pawn, lifts the Rook into an active position and gains time on the Black Queen to marsall more forces to the kingside.
• The answer to the previous question is that in addition to everything else, taking the pawn with the Rook keeps the long diagonal closed to Black.

19...d5

• Black will try again to open the long diagonal, as well as blocking the fifth rank to White's Rook.
• If 19...Qc7? then after 20.Bh6! Qb6+ 21.Kh2 Bxh6 22.Qxh6 Nxe4 23.Rh5 Black cannot prevent mate on the h-file.

20.exd5

• The diagonal remains closed.
• 20.Qg3 Nh7 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Rfxd5 Qb4 23.Bd4 f6 is equal.

20...Qb4?

• Black neglects White's growing threat on the kingside.
• If 20...Rd8 then:
• 21.Qxc4 Rd6 22.b4 Qd8 23.Bc5 Rd7 is equal.
• If 21.Rg5 then:
• 21...Nh7 22.Rh5 Nf6 23.Rg5 draws.
• If 21...Ne8? 22.d6! f5 23.Qxc4+ Rf7 24.d7 Nd6 25.Qe6 wins for White.
• If 20...Nh7 21.Rh5 Nf6 22.Rg5 Nh7 then:
• 23.Rg4 f5 24.Rxc4 Qd8 is equal.
• If 23.Rh5 Nf6 draws.
• Another attempt to open the long light diagonal, 20...Nxd5?, loses to 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Rfxd5 Qxa2 23.Bh6 Qxb2 24.Bxg7 when White wins a piece because Black cannot retake the Bishop: 24...Qxg7 25.Rg5 loses the Queen.
• 24...Kxg7 25.Qg4+ Kf6 26.Rf1#.

21.Bh6!

• Black's King is in a mating net.
• If 21.Bd4 Qxb2 22.Rb1 Qxc2 23.Rf2 then:
• 23...Qh7 24.Qxh7+ Kxh7 25.Rxb7 gives White more activity.
• If 23...Qxb1+? 24.Nxb1 Bxd5 25.Nc3 then:
• 25...Be6 26.Rxf6!! Bxf6 27.Bxf6 exf6 28.Ne4 White wins.
• 25...Ba8 26.Rf5 Nh7 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Qxc4 White wins.

21...Qb6+

• If 21...Nh7 then after 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Rd4 Qb6 24.Na4 Qg6 25.Rg4 the party's over.

22.Kh1 Nh7 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Rd4 Rh8

• 24...Qg6 25.Rg4 Nf6 26.Rxg6+ fxg6 27.Re5 is curtains.

25.Rg4+ Kf8 26.Qh5 Bxd5

• If 26...Qf6 27.Ne4 Bc8 28.Nxf6 exf6 29.Qh6+ Ke7 30.Qe3+ is lights out.
• 27.Rxf6 exf6 28.Qh6+ Ke7 29.Qe3+ Kd7 30.Qa7 wins for White.

27.Nxd5 Qe6 28.Nc7 1-0

• 28...Qe1+ 29.Kh2 Qe5+ 30.Rff4!! Qxh5 31.Ne6#.
• Nils resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. Grandelius - I. Sokolov, Round 2

Nils Grandelius
Photo: Official website of the 2009 Scandanzvian Open


Nils Grandelius - Ivan Sokolov
17th Sigeman & Co International Tournament, Round 2
Malmø, 4 June 2009

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 to the Spanish Grand Royal has been favored at various times by Dr. Tarrasch, Rubinstein, Dr. Euwe and, more recently, Korchnoi.

6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2

• 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...Nc5 10.c3 Bg4

• 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).

11.Bc2 Ne6

• If 11...Be7 12.Re1 then:
• If 12...Qd7 13.Nf1 Rd8 14.Ne3 Bh5 then:
• If 15.b4 Ne6 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 0-0 18.a4 Rfe8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Rb8 21.Qe2 Ncd8 then:
• 22.Ra7 d4 23.cxd4 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Nxd4 25.Nxd4 Qxd4 26.Rxc7 gives White the advantage in space (Shabalov-Sorin, Op, Beil, 1992).
• 22.Ra5 c6 23.Be3 Bf8 24.Rea1 Nc7 25.h3 Nde6 26.Qa2 c5 27.bxc5 Nxc5 is equal (Costantini-Naumkin, Op, Estensi, 2001).
• 12...0-0 then:
• If 13.Nb3 Ne6 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.Qd2 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Qd7 then:
• 19.Rd3 Rad8 20.h3 Bf8 21.Qd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Geller-Unzicker, Bad Worishofen, 1992).
• 19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Rd2 Na7 21.Red1 c6 22.h4 is equal (Zlatdinov-Mikhalevski, IT. Caerleon, 2005).
• If 13.Nf1 Re8 14.h3 Bh5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Nf5 then:
• 16...Ne4 17.Nxe7+ Rxe7 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.Nh4 Nc5 20.Nxg6 hxg6 21.Be3 Ne6 22.f4 d4 23.Be4 Rd8 24.Bc1 is equal (Timman-van den Doel, Dutch Ch, Rotterdam, 1997).
• 16...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, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2003).

12.Re1 Bc5 13.Nf1 Bh5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.h4 Ne7!?

• If 15...d4 then:
• 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.cxd4 Ncxd4 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.Be3 Qxd1 20.Bxd1 0-0 21.h5 Bd3 22.Bxc5 Nxc5 23.Rc1 gives White the more active game (Karjakin-G. Flear, IT, Hastings, 2002-03).
• 16.Bb3 dxc3 17.bxc3 Qxd1 18.Rxd1 h6 19.h5 Bh7 20.a4 0-0 21.Bd5 Rad8 22.axb5 Ne7 23.Bb3 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 axb5 is equal (Jakovenko-I. Sokolov, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 3005).

16.h5

• The game is equal.

16...Bxc2 17.Qxc2 h6 18.Be3

• 18.b4 Ba7 19.Qb3 0-0 20.a4 Re8 remains equal.

18...Bxe3 19.Rxe3 0-0

• 19...Qd7 20.Rd1 0-0 21.Nf5 Rfe8 remains equal.

20.Rd1 c5 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.Qxf5 Ra7

• If 22...Qa5 23.a3 Rfd8 24.Red3 then:
• 24...Qa4 25.Rxd5 Qxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Rxd1+ remains equal.
• 24...Nc7 25.Qg4 c4 26.R3d2 Re8 27.Nd4 givces White the initiative on the king's wing.

23.Red3 Rd7 24.b4 Qc8!?

• White drops a pawn.
• 24...Qa8 25.bxc5 Nxc5 26.Re3 Rc7 27.Nd4 Ne4 remains equal.

BLACK: Ivan Sololov
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 24...Qd8c8

25.Rxd5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 cxb4 27.cxb4 Qc1+

• Black can regain the pawn by 27...Qc4 28.Rd6 Qxa2 29.Qe4 a5 with equality.

28.Kh2 Qb2 29.Rd6 Qxf2 30.Rxa6 Ng5 31.Qg4!?

• White may be tring to launch an attack on the Black King, but Black should have the resourced to repulse it.
• 31.Rd6 Re8 32.Rd5 Nxf3+ 33.Qxf3 Qh4+ 34.Qh3 Qxb4 is again equal.

31...Qe2 32.Qf4 Nxf3+ 33.Qxf3 Qxe5+ 34.Kh3 Kh7

• The game is again equal.

35.Rc6 Rd8 36.Rc5 Qe8 37.Qf5+ Kg8?!

• 37...g6 38.Qe5 Qd7+ 39.Kg3 Re8 40.hxg6+ fxg6 41.Qc7 forces the exchange of Queens giving White the active Rook and a more active King.

BLACK: Ivan Sololov
!""""""""#
$ + Tw+l+%
$+ + +oO %
$ + + + O%
$+oR +q+p%
$ P + + +%
$+ + + +k%
$p+ + +p+%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 37...Kh7g8

38.Rxb5! Rd1 39.Re5 Qb8 40.Qe4 Rh1+ 41.Kg4 Qc8+ 42.Kg3 Qc3+

• 42...Qc7 43.Qf4 Qd7 44.b5 Qd3+ 45.Qe3 Qd6 46.Qc5 White still has two connected passed pawns.

43.Qe3 Qxb4

• 43...Qc7 44.Kf2 Qd7 45.b5 Ra1 46.a3 White continues to enjoy a clear advantage.

44.Re8+! Kh7 45.Qd3+ g6 46.hxg6+ Kg7 47.Re4!?

• This eases the pressure on the neighborhood of the Black King.
• If 47.gxf7! Qh4+ (the pawn must not be allowed to queen) 48.Kf3 Qf6+ 49.Ke2 then:
• If 49...Qb2+ 50.Ke3 Qc1+ 51.Kf2 Qf4+ then:
• 52.Qf3 Qxf7 53.Qxf7+ Kxf7 54.Re4 White has a much stronger game owing to his remote passer.
• 52.Ke2 Qf1+ 53.Kd2 Qxg2+ is equal.
• 49...Qf1+ 50.Ke3 Qc1+ 51.Kf2 Qf4+

47...Qb8+ 48.Kf3 fxg6 49.Qd7+?!

• White misses the opportunity to put the game away.
• If 49.Qc3+! Kg8 50.Qc6 Qf8+ 51.Kg3 Qa3+ 52.Kg4 then:
• If 52...h5+ then 53.Kg5 Qc1+ 54.Qxc1 Rxc1 55.Kxg6 wins for White.
• 52...Kg7 loses immediately to 53.Qd7+ Kg8 54.Re8+.

BLACK: Ivan Sololov
!""""""""#
$ W + + +%
$+ +q+ L %
$ + + +oO%
$+ + + + %
$ + +r+ +%
$+ + +k+ %
$p+ + +p+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 49.Qd3d7+

49...Kf8!

• Black cover the sensitive f8 square and prepares to push back. White still has a huge advantage, but is no longer winning.

50.Rf4+ Kg8 51.Qd5+ Kh8

• 51...Kh7 loses convincingly to 52.Rf7+ Kg8 53.Re7+ Kh8 54.Qd4+ Kg8 55.Qg7#.

52.Qd4+ Kg8 53.Qc4+ Kh8 54.Rf7 Re1 55.Qd4+!?

• 55.Qc7 Qxc7 56.Rxc7 Rf1+ 57.Kg3 Rf5 58.Ra7 makes White's remote passer the difference in the game, but Black has a lot of fight left.

55...Re5 56.Kf4

• 56.g4!? Qe8 57.Rd7 Qf8+ 58.Kg3 Qc5 59.Qxc5 Rxc5 leaves White with almost no advantage at all.

56...g5+ 57.Kg4 h5+?

• Things are looking grim for Black, but this move seals his fate.
• If 57...Kg8 58.Rd7 then:
• If 58...Qb5 59.Kh5 g4+ 60.Kh4 Rh5+ 61.Kg3 then:
• 61...Qe5+ 62.Qxe5 Rxe5 63.Kxg4 White's remote passer still gives him the advantage, but Black is able to battle on.
• If 61...Re5 then after 62.Rd8+ Re8 63.Qxg4+ Kf8 64.Qf4+ Kg7 65.Rxe8 White continues to keep the remote passer in reserve.
• If 58...h5+ then after 59.Kh3 Qb5 60.Kh2 Qe2 61.Qb6 Black must either give up the Rook or submit to mate.

BLACK: Ivan Sololov
!""""""""#
$ W + + L%
$+ + +r+ %
$ + + + +%
$+ + T Oo%
$ + Q +k+%
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$p+ + +p+%
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WHITE: Nils Grandelius
Position after 57...h6h5+

58.Kh3!

• White now wins lickity split.
• Also good is 58.Kxh5! Qe8 59.Qd7 Qxd7 60.Rxd7 when:
• 60...Ra5 61.g4 Kg8 62.Kg6 Kf8 63.Rf7+ gives White a won game.
• If 60...Re2? 61.Ra7! then White wins easily after 61...g4 62.g3 Re4 63.Kg6!.

58...Kg8 59.Rd7 Qb5 60.Kh2 Qc5 61.Qd3 1-0

• If 61...Rf5 then White wins after 62.Qb3+ Kh8 63.Qb8+ Qf8 64.Rd8.
• Sokolov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

22. Other Games

Havana
Photo: Domincan Today

[Jack Rabbit]

23. Timofeev - Domínguez, Capablanca Memorial, Round 3, Havana

Leinier Domínguez
Photo: Website of the 2005 Bermuda Chess Festival


Artyom Timofeev - Leinier Domínguez
44th Capablanca Memorial Tournament (Elite Group), Round 3
Havana, 10 June 2009

Symmetrical English Game: Catalan Opening

1.c4 c5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.a3 d6 6.e3

• If 6.Rb1 a5 7.d3 e5 8.Nf3 Nge7 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 10.Bd2 h6 11.Ne1 Be6 12.Nc2 d5 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Ne3 then:
• 14...Nde7 15.Na4 b6 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 b5 18.Nc5 Ba2 is equal (Jobava-Bu Xiangzhi, TMatch, Taiyuan, 2006).
• 14...Nce7 15.Qc1 b6 16.Nexd5 Nxd5 17.Bxh6 f5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.b4 cxb4 20.axb4 a4 21.Nxa4 Rxa4 22.Qc6 Rxb4 23.Qxe6 leaves White a pawn to the good with a strong initiative (Jobava-Jankovic, Euro Ch, Kusadasai, 2006).
• If 10.Ne1 Be6 11.Nc2 d5 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Ne3 Nde7 then:
• If 14.Nc4 Rb8 then:
• 15.Bg5 f6 16.Be3 Nd4 17.f4 b5 18.Nd2 f5 gives Black the advantage in space (Anastasian-Zhou Jianchao, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 15.a4 f5 16.Nb5 Nd5 17.Bd2 b6 18.b3 Qd7 is equal (Quesada-Domínguez, Cuban Ch, Las Tunas, 2001).
• 14.Bd2 Rc8 15.Nc4 h6 16.Nb5 b6 (Magalashvili-Winants, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

6...e6

• If 6...e5 7.Nge2 Nge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 then:
• 9...Be6 10.Nd5 Qd7 11.Nec3 Bh3 12.Bxh3 Qxh3 13.Bd2 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 f5 15.f4 Rf7 16.Rb1 Nd8 17.b4 Ne6 18.bxc5 dxc5 is equal (Petrosian-Matanovic, IT, Kiev, 1959).
• If 9...a5 10.Rb1 Rb8 11.Bd2 Be6 12.Nd5 b5 then:
• If 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.cxb5 Rxb5 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.Rxb4 Rxb4 18.Bxb4 Qb6 then:
• 19.Qa4 Rb8 20.Ba3 Bf8 is equal (K. Berg-Sermek, Op, Groningen,1994).
• 19.Qd2 Nd5 20.Ba5 Qb5 is equal (Belzo-Lim Yee Weng, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 13.cxb5 Nxd5 14.bxc6 Qb6 15.Qa4 Ra8 16.Nc3 Nc7 17.Qd1 Bb3 18.Qc1 Rad8 19.f4 is equal (Benjamin-Wengholm, Jr IT, Hallsberg, 1975).

7.Nge2 Nge7 8.b4!?

• 8.Nf4 Rb8 9.0-0 0-0 10.Rb1 b6 11.d3 Bb7 12.Bd2 Ne5 13.e4 N7c6 14.Be1 Nd4 gives Black the advantage in space (Ponomariov-Leko, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).

BLACK: Leinier Dominguez
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 8.b2b4

8...0-0

• Black will play conservatively and not undertake any action before completing his development.
• 8...cxb4!? 9.axb4 Nxb4 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 Nbc6 12.Ba3 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.

9.0-0 Rb8 10.Bb2 b6 11.d4

• The game is equal.

11...cxd4 12.exd4 d5!?

• Black tries to grab some space befire White dominates it all.
• Continuing with development on "hypermodern" lines appears the better plan. 12...Bb7 13.Qd3 Nf5 14.Nd1 Qc7 15.Rc1 Rfc8 16.f4 remains equal; White has more space, but Black is compensated in activity.

13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.b5!?

• This aggression on the queenside is premature. Better is to first develop the heavy pieces.
• 15.Rc1! Ne7 16.Re1 a6 17.Nf4 Bb7 18.Qf3 gives White the advantage in space.

15...Na5 16.Nf4

• The game is equal.
• 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Nf4 Bb7 18.Qf3 Nb3 19.Rad1 Qc7 is equal.

16...Bb7 17.h4 Rc8

• 17...Qd7 18.a4 Nc4 19.Bc3 Rfe8 remains equal.

18.Qd3!?

• This move is passive. If White is to protect the b-pawn, it is best done with 18.a4, but he has more active alternative to this move.
• 18.Re1 Nc4 19.Bc3 Qd7 20.Qf3 Rfe8 21.a4 Re4 remains equal.

BLACK: Leinier Dominguez
!""""""""#
$ +tW Tl+%
$Ov+ +oVo%
$ o + +o+%
$Mp+o+ + %
$ + P N P%
$P + + P %
$ B + Pb+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 18.Qd1d3

18...Nc4!

• This is a very active move that disrupts the harmony of White's position.

19.Bc3 Re8 20.a4 Bh6 21.Rfe1

• 21.Qf3 Nd6 22.Bb4 Re4 23.Ne2 a5 24.Ba3 Nc4 gives Black the initiative.

21...Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Bxf4 23.gxf4 Nd6

• Also good is 23...Qxh4 24.Qg3 Qf6 25.f5 Nd6 26.fxg6 fxg6 , giving Black an extra pawn.

24.h5 Ne4 25.Bxe4

• 25.Bb2 Qh4 26.Qf3 gxh5 27.Rc1 Rxc1+ 28.Bxc1 Qg4 Black has an extra pawn.

25...dxe4 26.Qh3 Qd5 27.hxg6

• 27.Re3 Rc4 28.f5 Qxf5 29.hxg6 fxg6 30.Qxf5 gxf5 gives Black an extra pawn.

27...fxg6

• If 27...hxg6!? 28.Re3 Rc4 29.f5 Qxf5 then:
• 30.d5 Qg5+ 31.Kf1 Kf8 32.d6 is equal.
• If 30.Qh6? then Black wins after 30...Rxc3!! 31.Rxc3 e3 when:
• 32.fxe3 Qb1+ 33.Kf2 Qb2+ wins the Rook.
• 32.Qxe3 Qg4+ 33.Kf1 Qd1+ 34.Qe1 Bg2+ wins the Queen.
• 32.Rxe3 Qb1+ 33.Kh2 Qh1+ wins the Queen.

28.Re3 Rf8 29.Qh4 Rf7 30.Rg3 e3!?

• Black misses the most active line.
• 30...a6 31.bxa6 Bxa6 32.Re3 Bd3 33.f3 Qc4 Black has the initiative.

31.fxe3!

• No other move will do. The game is equal.
• If 31.Be1? then Black wins after 31...Rxf4 32.Qh3 e2 33.f3 Qxd4+.

31...Qb3 32.Be1 Qd1 33.Rg5

• If 33.Rh3 Qxa4 34.Qd8+ Kg7 35.f5 h5 then:
• 36.Rg3 Rxf5 37.Rxg6+ Kxg6 38.Qg8+ Kh6 39.Qh8+ Kg6 draws.
• 36.fxg6?! Qd1! 37.Qh4 Rf6 38.e4 Qxd4+ gives Black an extra pawn and greater activity.

33...Qf3!?

• White forgoes taking back the pawn in order to establish complications on the kingside.
• 33...Qxa4 34.Re5 Qd1 35.Re8+ Kg7 36.f5 Rxf5 37.Re7+ remains equal.

34.d5?

• White stakes his winning chances on advancing the d-pawn. Unfortunately, White doesn't have any winning chances and should play to content himself with a draw.
• Better is 34.Qg3 Qd1 35.f5 when:
• 35...Qe2 36.Qf2 Qd1 37.a5 Rxf5 38.Rxf5 gxf5 39.Qg3+ remains equal.
• If 35...Qc2 then after 36.fxg6 hxg6 37.Rxg6+ Qxg6 38.Qxg6+ Rg7 39.Qxg7+!! White's two extra pawns give him excellent winning chances even in a Bishops of opposite color ending.

BLACK: Leinier Dominguez
!""""""""#
$ + + +l+%
$Ov+ +t+o%
$ O + +o+%
$+p+p+ R %
$p+ + P Q%
$+ + Pw+ %
$ + + + +%
$+ + B K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 34.d4d5

34...Qxe3+?!

• Black misses the winning line.
• If 34...Bxd5 then:
• 35.Rg3 Qe4 36.Kf2 Rf8 37.Kg1 Rc8 ties down White's heavy pieces with the mating threat on g2.
• If 35.Bd2 then 35...Rf5 36.Rg4 Be4 37.Qd8+ Rf8 38.Qh4 Qe2 wins for Black.

35.Qf2

• 35.Bf2? Qc1+! 36.Be1 Rxf4 37.Qg3 Qc5+ 38.Kh2 Qc2+ wins for Black.

35...Qe4

• If 35...Qxf2+ 36.Bxf2 Rxf4 37.d6 then:
• 37...Rf7 38.Re5 Rd7 39.Bg3 Kf7! maintains Black's supremacy.
• 37...Rxa4?! 38.Re5 Ra1+ 39.Kh2 Rd1 40.Re8+ Kf7 41.Re7+ Kf6 is equal.

36.Qd2?

• White misses a shot to get back in the game and loses altogether.
• If 36.Re5 Qxa4 37.Qe3 Rf8 38.d6 then:
• If 38...Qd1 39.Re7 Bd5 40.Rxa7 Qh5 41.Bd2 is equal.
• If 38...Qc2? 39.Qh3 then:
• 39...Qd1 40.Re7 Rf7 41.Re8+ Kg7 42.Qc3+ Kh6 43.Re3 gives White a powerful initiative.
• 39...h6 40.d7 Qd1 41.Qe6+! wins for White.

36...Qc4

• Best is 36...Rxf4! 37.Bg3 Qb1+ then:
• 38.Qe1 Qxe1+ 39.Bxe1 Kf7 40.Re5 Rd4 wins for Black.
• If 38.Be1 then after 38...Re4 39.Kf1 Qa1 White's pawns fall.

37.Bg3 Re7 38.f5

• White gets a more stubborn resistance from 38.Re5 Rxe5 39.fxe5 Bxd5 40.Qg5 Qd4+.

38...Re2 39.Qf4 Qc5+ 40.Bf2 Rxf2 0-1

• 41.Qxf2 Qc1+ 42.Kh2 Qxg5 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• Timofeev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

24. Wang Jue - Shen Yang, Chinese Championships, Round 6, Xinghua

Shen Yang
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wang Jue - Shen Yang
Chinese Women's Championship, Round 6
Xinghua, 31 May 2009

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 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Rd8

• If 13...Bb7 then:
• 14.Nf1 Rac8 15.Re2 d5 16.dxe5 Nxe4 17.Ng3 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Rcd8 21.Qe1 Nc4 22.Ng5 Bxg5 23.Bxg5 Rd7 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.b3 Nb6 26.Re8 gives White an extra pawn and a fierce attack (Beliavsky-Diesen, IT, Hastings, 1974-75).
• If 14.d5 Rac8 then:
• 15.Bd3 Nd7 16.Nf1 f5 17.Ng3 f4 18.Nf5 Bd8 19.b3 g6 20.Nh6+ Kg7 21.Ng4 h5 22.Ngh2 Qb6 23.Bd2 gives White more freedom (Robson-Mahesh Chandran, IT, Richardson, Texas, 2007).
• 15.Bb1 Nh5 16.Nf1 Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Bd3 Bf6 19.Qe2 Qc5 20.Rac1 Qb4 21.b3 Rfe8 is equal (Shirov-Timman, IT, Belgrade, 1995).

14.Nf1

• If 14.b3 Nc6 15.Bb2 then:
• If 15...Bb7 16.Rc1 Qb6 then:
• If 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).
• 17.Nf1 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Bg5 21.Qh5 Bh6 then:
• If 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).
• 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).
• If 14.Nf1 exd4 15.Nxd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.f3 then:
• 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).

14...exd4 15.Nxd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bf4

• If 17.f3 Bc5!! 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Be3 Bb7 20.e6 Nc4 then:
• 21.exf7+ Qxf7 22.Bb3 Qf6 gives Black the advantage in space (Diblio-Sorway, Corres, 1997).
• 21.Bb3 Nxe3 22.exf7+ Kh8 23.Nxe3 Rxd4 gives Black the initiative (Rimawi-Ismagambetov, TT, Macau, 2007).

17...Bc5 18.Ne3 Qb6 19.Nf3!?

• If 19.Nb3 Nxb3 20.Bxb3 then:
• 20...Be6 21.Qd3 a5 22.f3 a4 23.Bc2 g5 24.Bh2 Bf5 gives Black the advantage in space (Onischuk-Bologan, IT, Enghien-les-Bains, 2001).
• 20...Bb7 21.Qg4 Qg6 draw (Findlay-St. Amand, Canadian Closed, Toronto, 2006).

19...Bb7

• The game is equal.

20.Ng5

• 20.b3 Rac8 21.Qd3 Qg6 22.Re2 Nc4 gives Black the advantage in space and more freedom; White cannot play 23.bxc4?? because 23...dxc4! traps the Queen.

20...h6 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Qb1 Nc4 23.Ng4?

• White opts to move on the kingside; correct is to fight for the center.
• If 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 then:
• If 24...Nxb2 25.Re2 Nd3 26.Rd1 Nxf4 then:
• If 27.Qxf4 Bxe3 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Qxe3 then:
• 29...Qe6 30.Kh2 remains equal.
• 29...Qxe3 30.Rxe3 Rd1+ 31.Kh2 Rd2 32.Ra3 remains equal.
• 27.Rxd8+?! Rxd8 28.Qxf4 Bxe3 29.Qxe3 transposes.
• 24...g5 25.b4 Bd4 26.Nxc4 Bxf2+ 27.Kh2 bxc4 28.Be3 is equal.

BLACK: Shen Yang
!""""""""#
$t+ T +l+%
$+v+ +oO %
$oW + + O%
$+oV P + %
$ +m+oBn+%
$+ + + +p%
$pPb+ Pp+%
$Rq+ R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Wang Jue
Position after 23.Ne3g4

23...h5

• If Black takes over the center with 23...Bd4! then she wins quicker after 24.Be3 h5 25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Ne3 Nxe5 Black wins a pawn and maintains the better center.

24.Ne3 Rac8 25.Bg5

• 25.Bxe4 Nd2 26.Bh7+ Kh8 27.Qf5 Be4 28.Qxf7 Bxh7 gives Black a piece for two pawns.

25...Re8 26.Bxe4 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Rxe5 28.Nxc4 Bxf2+ 29.Kf1 Rxe4!

• After this indirect exchanges of Queens, Black emerges with pawn majorities on both wings.

30.Nxb6 Rxe1+ 31.Kxf2 Rxa1 32.Nxc8 Rxa2!

BLACK: Shen Yang
!""""""""#
$ +n+ +l+%
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$o+ + + +%
$+o+ + Bo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + +p%
$tP + Kp+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Wang Jue
Position after 32...Ra1a2:p

• Black has the more active game, a theoretical material advantage and pawn majorities on both wings.

33.Bc1 Ra4 34.Nb6 Rd4 35.Ke2 f6 36.Bd2 Kf7 37.Be3

• If 37.Na8 then:
• 37...Rc4 38.Nb6 Rc5 39.b4 Rc6 40.Be3 h4 41.Kd3 Ke6 Black's King is ready to assist in creating a passed pawn from hier kingside majority.
• 37...Rd7 38.Ba5 h4 39.Nc7 f5 Black begins advancing her kingside pawn while White's pieces are tied up on the queenside.

37...Rd8 38.Kf3 Ke6 39.Ke4 g6 40.g3 Kd6

• Also good is 40...a5 41.Bf4 f5+ 42.Ke3 g5 43.Bxg5 Rb8! winning the Knight.

41.Nd5 f5+ 0-1

• 42.Kf4 Kxd5 43.Kg5 Rc8 44.h4 Rc6 leaves White no way to eat into White's material advantage.
• Ms. Wang resigns.

[El Supremo]

6. Have you ever played with this set? >>

Sorry, this is the closest that I can relate to chess.

[cboy4]

9. We know. Your idea of improving your chess game is to get

breast implants.

[El Supremo]

10. King me!

Oops, wrong game.

[cboy4]

13. lol

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Can't say I have

Not this one, either . . .


Photo: The Chess Piece

[El Supremo]

12. I knew Alice...

When she was ten feet tall.

Uh, time to quit. Rain delay at Coors and I'm ready to start on my second gin and tonic.

[madinmaryland]

15. Dammit, Jack, my wife wants that set.

:grr:

$300

[cboy4]

14. The happy couple. LOL ... I think we can deduce their joy -- at least at this

stage of their lives, has not much to do with chess.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Did you know . . .

That Natalija is keenly interested in eastern spirituality? She and her new husband are writing together a book called The Kama Sutra of Chess.

So maybe it does have something to do with chess. You never know.

[El Supremo]

17. "The Kama Sutra of Chess"?

Wow! Will they design a set? I'd like to have that one.

Uh, Back to my gin 'n tonic and the M's.

[cboy4]

19. I sounds to me as though you're keeping both gin 'n tonic AND

XTube in business.