The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (October 11): World Title Match Begins Tuesday

[Jack Rabbit]

Anand and Kramnik prepare for battle in Bonn Tuesday



Current world champion Vishy Anand of India and his predecessor, Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik, will square off in a 12-round match for the world championship in Bonn, the Cold War capital of West Germany, beginning Tuesday, October 14.

Kramnik will attempt to regain the title he loast in Mexico City last year when Anand won a championship tournament of eight of the strongest players in the world. Kramnik had held the title since the Autumn of 2000, when he defeated the great Garry Kasparov in a fourteen game match in London. Kramnik underscored his right to the title in 2006 when he narrowly defeated Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov, who held FIDE's version of the world championship after winning a strong tournament in San Luis, Argentina. That ended a long schism in chess in which two champions claimed the title simultaneously for 13 years.

Anand, one of the most popular players in the world, played Kasparov for the title in 1995 in New York, losing a scheduled 20-game match in 18 games, 10½-7½; Kasparov won four games to Anand's one. Since that time, Anand remained one of the two or three top ranked grandmasters in the game. He is the first world champion of Asian heritage.

The winner of the match will play against the winner of a match between Topalov and US grandmaster Gata Kamsky to be held in Ukraine in December.


Svidler Leads Superfinal in Moscow



Grandmaster Peter Svidler of St. Petersburg has a half-point lead over the field after eight rounds in the annual "Superfinal" of the Russian National Championship in Moscow.

Peter Veniaminovich drew his game with Nakita Vitiugov today. He has 5½ points to lead Vitiugov, former champion Evgeny Alekseev and Artyom Timofeev each by a half-point. He began the tournament by winning three games in a row and is yet to lose a game.

Reigning champion Alexander Morozevich lost his game today against Evgeny Tomashevsky to fall to an even record, effectively ending his title defense.

Peter Veniaminovich, 32, speaks excellent English. He is a cricket fan and likes Bob Dylan songs. He has held the Russian natioanl title four times (1994, 1995, 1997 and 2003).

Short Comes from Behind to Defend Commonwealth Championship



British grandmaster and former world title contender Nigel Short overcame a third round defeat to an unknown player to win the 11-round Commonwealth Championship which concluded in Nagpur in central India Monday.

Mr. Short defeated Pakistani grandmaster Hossain Enamul to take the lead in round 10 and then won his last game from Indian IM Arun Prasad to nail down the title for the second year in a row. Mr. short scored a total of 9½ points (9 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss).

Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly finished second with 9 points.


New Season of Bundesliga Begins



The 2008-09 edition of the Bundesliga, the German chess team championship, began last weekend.

In Bundesliga play, each team match consists of games on eight boards. The team that scores the most wins gets two match points. In the case of a drawn match, each team gets 1 point.

Each team will play 15 matches during the course of the season, which ends next spring.

After the first weekend, Hamburg, Mulheim, Baden Baden, Eppingen and Tegernsee each lead the sixteen-team league with 4 points each.

Each team consists of some German players, but many of the best players from all over the world compete on every team.


European Club Cup Begins Friday in Greece



The annual European Team Championship, also called the European Club Cup, begins with the first of seven Rounds on Fiday in Kallithea on the isthmus of Corinth in Greece.

More than 600 players will compete in two divisions, a general division of 64 teams and a women's division of 18 teams.

The event concludes Thursday, October 23.


Calendar

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

Hasting Chess Tournament 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 16 January-1 February 2009.

[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. Svidler - Morozevich, Superfinal, Round 2, Moscow

Peter Svidler
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich - Peter Svidler
Russian National Championship, Round 2
Moscow, 4 October 2008

King's English Game: Four Knights Opening (Catalan Variation)

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.d3

• If 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.Rb1 f6 11.d3 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 13.Nde4 Rf7 14.e3 Nb5 15.Nxb5 cxb5 16.Bb2 Na4 17.Ba1 Rc8 18.d4 f5 19.Nc5 Nxc5 20.bxc5 Bc4 21.Bxb7 Rb8 22.Bg2 Bxf1 23.Bxf1 exd4 24.exd4 Kh8 25.Rc1 Rc8 26.Bxb5 gives White a Bishop and two mobile pawns for a Rook (Ponomariov-Bareev, Team M, Moscow, 2002).
• If 14.Bd2 Rb8 15.a4 Nd5 16.e3 Nf5 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.bxc5 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Rd7 20.Qc2 Qe7 21.Ba1 Rbd8 22.Rfd1 h5 gives White's Bishops have more potential than Black's minor pieces (Ljubojevic-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 14...Nd5 15.e3 Nxc3 16.Nxc3 Nf5 17.Qc2 Bf8 18.Rfd1 a5 19.Na4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Kh8 21.Bxf8 Qxf8 22.Nc5 Bc8 23.a4 Nd6 gives White the advantage in space (Aronian-Karjakin, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).

10.d3 a5 11.b5 Nd4 transposes to the notes after White's 9th move.

8...0-0 9.a4

• If 9.a3 Be6 10.b4 a5 11.b5 Nd4 then:
• If 12.Nd2 c6 13.bxc6 Nxc6 14.Rb1 then:
• 14...a4 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qc2 Qc7 17.Bb2 Rfc8 18.Nce4 c5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Rxb6 c4 21.dxc4 Bxa3 22.Rfb1 Bf5 is equal (Navara-Timoshchenko, Team M, Prague, 2004).
• 14...Rc8 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.dxc4 Bxc4 17.Qxd8 Nxd8 18.Nd5 Bc5 gives Black an extra pawn and an active game (Wirig-Naiditsch, TT, Belgium, 2006).
• If 12.Bb2 f6 then:
• If 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.Na4 Bd5 15.Bh3 Bf7 16.Rc1 then:
• 16...Qd6 17.Bg2 Ra7 18.Nc5 Qe5 19.Nb3 Qxb5 White resigns as he must lose a piece (Moor-Kritz, Young Masters, Zug, 2001).
• 16...Re8 17.Bg2 Rb8 18.Re1 Bf8 19.Nc5 Bd5 20.Bh3 Bf7 21.Bg2 Bd5 22.Bxd5+ Qxd5 23.Qc2 Rbd8 is equal (Jobava-Cheparinov, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2005).
• 13.Nd2 a4 14.Bxb7 Ra5 15.e3 Nxb5 16.Qc2 Nd6 17.Bg2 Qd7 18.Rfc1 Rc5 19.Qd1 Rd8 is equal (Sturua-Pelletier, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 9.Be3 Be6 10.a3 a5 11.Na4 Nd5 12.Bc5 Bd6 13.Rc1 h6 then:
• 14.d4 e4 15.Ne5 f5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Qc2 Nf6 19.e3 Bd5 20.Qd2 g5 21.Nc3 Rf7 22.f4 exf3 23.Bxf3 Qe6 24.Nxd5 cxd5 25.Rc5 c6 26.Rfc1 gives White the advantage in space (Quinteros-Dzindzichashvili, Op, New York, 1983).
• 14.Nd2 Rc8 15.Ne4 b6 16.Nxd6 cxd6 17.Bxb6 Nxb6 18.Rxc6 Rb8 19.Nxb6 Rxb6 20.Qc2 Qb8 21.Rxb6 Qxb6 22.Rb1 Bb3 23.Qd2 Rb8 24.Rc1 gives White an extra pawn (Kasparov-K. Georgiev, Blitz, Saint John, 2988).
• 10.Qc1 Nd5 11.Rd1 f5 12.d4 e4 13.Ng5 Bxg5 14.Bxg5 Qd7 15.Na4 b6 16.b3 h6 17.Be3 Rad8 18.Bf4 g5 19.Be5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Qg7 21.Qb2 Rfe8 22.e3 Bf7 23.g4 fxg4 24.Rd4 Qxe5 25.Rxe4 Qxb2 26.Rxe8+ Bxe8 27.Nxb2 Nc3 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom (Mazzilli-Romanishin, IT, Rome, 2005).

9...a5 10.Be3 Be6

• 10...Bg4 11.Rc1 Re8 12.h3 Be6 13.Ne4 Nd4 14.Bxd4 exd4 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.Rxc5 c6 17.Qd2 Nxa4 18.Rh5 Bd5 19.Rh4 c5 20.Ra1 b5 21.Rh5 Ra6 22.Kf1 h6 23.g4 Rae6 gives Black an extra pawn and a more active position (Bischoff-Suba, IT, Dortmund, 1983).

11.Nd2 Nd5

• 11...f5 12.Rc1 f4 13.Bxb6 cxb6 14.Nc4 Bc5 15.Ne4 Bb4 16.Ned2 Bc5 17.Ne4 Bb4 18.Kh1 Nd4 19.Nc3 Qg5 20.Nxb6 Rad8 21.Nc4 Qh5 22.Nd2 is equal (Malakhov-Nepomniachtchi, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Qxd5 14.Qb3

• 14.Rc1 Rad8 15.Qb3 Bb4 16.Qxd5 Rxd5 17.Nb3 f5 18.Rc4 Bd6 19.Bc5 Re8 20.Rfc1 e4 21.dxe4 fxe4 is equal (Markowski-Christiansen, Op, Reyjavik, 2000).

14...Nb4 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.Ne4!?

• 16.Nf3 Bd6 17.Bd2 Rfe8 18.Bxb4 Bxb4 19.Qc4 c6 20.Kg2 Rad8 21.Rc2 Qf5 gives Black the advantage in space (Markowski-Karjakin, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

16...b6

• The game is equal.
• If 16...c6 then:
• 17.Bb6 Qg4 18.e3 Qe2 19.Rd1 is equal.
• 17.Rc4 Nd5 18.Bb6 Rfc8 19.Rac1 Bb4 is equal.

17.Bd2

• The position demands that White play on the queenside for the early initiative.
• 17.Rc4!? Nd5 18.Rac1 c5 19.Bd2 Rad8 20.Nc3 Qe6 gives Black an advantage in space.

17...c6 18.Bc3 Qc7!

• This is the most efficient way to protect the queenside and the e-pawn. The game remains equal.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 18...Qd7c7

19.Qc4!?

• This is an adventuresome reply to Black's previous move. White puts pressure on both pawns protected by the Queen.
• 19.Bxb4 Bxb4 20.Rc4 Qd7 21.Rac1 Qd5 remains equal.
• 19.Nd2 Rfe8 20.Nf3 Bd6 21.Bxb4 Bxb4 22.Qc4 c5 remains equal.

19...Nd5

• The Black Queen is not yet overloaded.
• 19...Na6 20.d4 exd4 21.Bxd4 Nb4 22.Rd1 Rfd8 remains equal.

20.Nd2

• If White can bring the Knight to f3, he might be able to win a pawn.

20...Rfe8 21.Qe4

• White abandons any idea of capturing an extra pawn.
• If 21.Rab1 Rad8 then:
• 22.Qg4 Bb4 23.Ne4 Qe7 gives Black more space and activity.
• 22.Rc2 Bd6 23.Nf3 Qd7 24.Bd2 Rc8 gives Black the advantage in space.
• White still cannot win a pawn by force: 21.Nf3 Bd6 22.e4 Nxc3 23.bxc3 Re6 24.Rab1 Rae8 remains equal.
• 21...Bc5? drops the pawn: if 22.d4 exd4 23.Bxd4 then:
• 23...Re4 24.Qd3 Re6 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Rxc5 wins the pawn and after 26...Qe7 27.Qc4 Re4 28.Nd4 White holds on to his extra pawn.
• 23...Bxd4 24.Nxd4 Nb4 25.Nxc6 Nxc6 26.Qxc6 Qxc6 27.Rxc6 Rxe2 28.Rxb6 gives White an extra pawn.

21...Bc5 22.Nf3 Bd6 23.Ng5 Nf6 24.Qf5 h6 25.Nf3

• If 25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Qxe4 Qd7 27.d4 then:
• If 27...f5!! 28.Qd3 exd4! 29.Qxd4 then:
• 29...Qc7 30.Qc4+ Kh7 31.Rd1 Rad8 is equal.
• 29...c5 30.Qd5+ Kh8 31.Rd1 Rad8 is equal.
• If 27...exd4?! then 28.Qxd4 f5 (the same position as after 29.Qxd4 in the main variation, but with White to move) 29.Rd1 Re6 30.Qxb6 wins a pawn for White.

25...Re6 26.Rc2 Nd5 27.Rac1 Rae8

• If 27...Rd8 then:
• 28.Qe4 Qd7 29.Bd2 Bc7 30.Rc4 Nf6 31.Qf5 Qe8 gives Black the better center.
• 28.Bd2 Qd7 29.Rc4 Qe8 30.Kg2 Bc7 is equal.

28.Bd2 Bb4 29.Bxb4

• 29.d4 Ne7 30.Qg4 Bxd2 31.Rxd2 Rg6 32.Qe4 exd4 33.Qxd4 remains equal.

29...Nxb4 30.Rc4 c5 31.Nd2?!

• White cannot prevent Black from playing ...Nb4-c6-d4, but he can do more to take the sting out of the move.
• 31.Re4 Nc6 32.Rcc4 Nd4 33.Qh5 Qe7 34.Kg2 Qf8 35.Rc1 f5 36.Re3 g6 37.Qh3 e4 Gives Black a clear advantage.
• 34.Nxd4?! fails against 34...exd4 35.Rxe6 Qxe6 36.Kf1 Qc6, threatening mate at h1 and assuring Black of a lasting advantage.

BLACK: Peter Svidler
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 31.Nf3d2

31...Qd7!

• Black forces White to prepare e2e3 if that is what he wishes to play.

32.b3 Nc6 33.Qh5?

• If 33.Ne4? then 33...Nd4! 34.Qh5 f5 35.Nc3 Nxb3 wins a pawn.
• If 33.Qh3! then Black retains his spatial advatage with 33...Nd4 34.Re1 Rd8 35.Rc3 Qd5.

33...Nd4!

• White's inaccuracies have increased the power of this move.

34.Re1 e4!

• Black determines that the time to open the center is now.

35.dxe4 Re5 36.Qh4
BLACK: Peter Svidler
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 36.Qh5h4

36...Nf5!!

The sham sacrifice allows Black to place his heavy pieces in White's camp.
37.exf5 Qxd2 38.Rf1 Rxe2

• Mission accomplished (see previous note).

39.Qg4 Qd3 40.f6 g6 41.Rcc1

• If 41.Qf4 then after 41...Re1 42.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 43.Kg2 Qf1+ 44.Kf3 Qh1+ 45.Kg4 Qxh2 Black wins.

41...Qxb3 42.Rb1 Qe6 43.Qf4 Re4 44.Qc7

• 44.Qxh6 Qxf6 45.Ra1 Re2 46.Ra3 R8e6 47.Qh3 Qd4 Black's c-pawn becomes the focus of the game.

44...Rb4 45.Rbd1

• If 45.Rxb4 axb4 46.a5 then Black's queenside pawns decide the game: 46...bxa5 47.Qxc5 Qe5 48.Qa7 b3.

45...Qxf6 46.Rd6 Qe7 47.Rd7 Qe6 48.Rfd1 Re4 49.Kg2

• After 49.R7d6 Re1+ 50.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 51.Kg2 Qe4+ 52.Kg1 Qxa4 White cannot defend an attack on his King and the advance of Black's queenside at the same time.

49...Rxa4 50.R7d6 Qf5 51.R1d3

• 51.Rd8 Rxd8 52.Qxd8+ Kh7 53.Qxb6 Ra2 54.Rf1 a4 Black's two extra pawns decide.

51...Ra1 52.Rd8 Rae1

• If 52...Rxd8 53.Qxd8+ Kh7 then:
• 54.Rf3 Rg1+ 55.Kxg1 Qxf3 56.Qxb6 Qd1+ 57.Kg2 Qd5+ gives Black time to advance the a-pawn.
• If 54.Qe7 then after 54...Re1 55.Qc7 Kg7 56.Rf3 Qe6 57.Qd8 a4 Black wins with three connected passers.

53.Rf3 Qe6 54.Rxe8+

• If 54.Rd7 Rf8 55.Rd2 Rc8 then:
• 56.Qb7 Re8 57.h3 Qc4 58.Kh2 Rf8 Black is three pawns up.
• 56.Qf4 g5 57.Qa4 c4 58.Qb5 g4 59.Rf4 c3 Black is three pawns to the good.

54...Qxe8 55.Qxb6 a4 56.Qxc5 Qa8 57.Qc3

• 57.Qd4 Re7 58.Qd6 Rb7 59.Qc6 Ra7 60.Qxa8+ Rxa8 transposes into the text.

57...Rb1 58.Qc4 Rb7 59.Qd5 Ra7 60.Qxa8+

• 60.Qa2 a3 61.h4 Qe4 62.h5 Kh7 63.hxg6+ fxg6 Black has put Whitn in Zugzwang.
• 60.Qc4 a3 61.Qa2 Qb7 62.h4 Kg7 63.Qa1+ Qb2 Black wins.

60...Rxa8 61.Ra3 f5 62.Kf3 Kf7 63.Ke3 Ke6

• 63...g5 64.Kd4 Ke6 65.f4 Kd6 66.fxg5 hxg5 Black retains his extra pawn and takes the opposition.

64.Kd4 g5 65.Re3+

• White has blocked the advance of the a-pawn momentarily and brought his King to the center. Now he needs to slow the advance of Black's kingside pawns.
• Better is 65.h3 g4 66.hxg4 fxg4 67.Kc5 Kf5 68.Kb4, although it's suicidal for White to exchange Rooks to take the pawn.

65...Kd6 66.Ra3
BLACK: Peter Svidler
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 66.Re3a3

66...g4!

• White's kingside is paralyzed.

67.Kc4 Ke5 68.Re3+

• If 68.f4+ then after 68...gxf3 69.Re3+ Kf6 70.Rxf3 a3 71.Rf1 Kg5 Black wins.

68...Kf6 69.Ra3 h5

• If 69...Ra7 70.Kb4 Rb7+ 71.Kc3 Rc7+ 72.Kb4 Re7 73.f4 gxf3 74.Rxf3 Re4+ 75.Ka3 h5 assures Black of passed pawns on both sides of the board.
• 73.Ka5 then after 73...Re2 74.f3 gxf3 75.Rxf3 Rxh2 Black wins.

71.Kxa4 loses immediately to 71...Ra7+ 72.Kb4 Rxa3 73.Kxa3.

70.Kd4 Ra7 71.f4 h4!

• 71...gxf3 72.Ke3 Re7+ 73.Kxf3 Re4 74.Rd3 Ke5 makes little progress.

72.gxh4 Re7 73.Kd3

• 73.h3 Re4+ 74.Kd5 Rxf4 75.Rc3 Kg7 76.hxg4 fxg4 Black's extra pawn decides.

73...Re4 74.Rc3 Kg6

• 74...Rxf4 75.Rc6+ Ke5 76.Rc5+ Kd6 77.Ra5 a3 78.h5 Ke6 Black stops the forward h-pawn and wins.

75.Rc8

• 75.Rc6+ Kh5 76.Rc8 Rxf4 77.Rh8+ Kg6 78.Rg8+ Kh7 79.Ra8 a3 Black stops the forward h-pawn and wins.

75...Rxf4 76.Rg8+ Kf7 77.Ra8 Rf2

• If 77...Rf3+ 78.Kd4 Kg6 then:
• 79.Ke5 Re3+ 80.Kf4 Re4+ Black will capture the two White pawns, use his outside passer as a decoy to draw away White's forces and win by advancing his kingside pawns.
• If 79.Rg8+ Kf6 then:
• 80.Rh8 Rf4+ 81.Kd5 a3 82.Rh6+ Kg7 83.Ra6 Rf3 White's pawns fall.
• If 80.Rf8+ Ke6 81.Re8+ Kd6 82.Rd8+ Kc6 83.Rc8+ Kb7 then:
• 84.Rc2 Rb3 85.Kc4 Rh3 White's pawn fall.
• 84.Rc1 Rf2 85.Ke5 a3 86.Ra1 a2 Black wins.

78.Ke3

• If 78.Rxa4 Rxh2 79.Ra7+ Kg6 then:
• 80.Ke3 Rxh4 81.Kf4 Rh1 82.Ra6+ Kh5 83.Kxf5 Rf1+ The White Kings gives way and the pawn advances.
• 80.Ra8 Rxh4 81.Ke3 Rh3+ 82.Kf2 f4 83.Rf8 Kg5 Black wins.

78...Rxh2 79.Rxa4 Kg6 80.Ra8 Rxh4 81.Kf4 Rh3

• Also good is 81...Rh1 82.Rg8+ Kf6 83.Rf8+ Ke6 84.Rg8 Rf1+.

82.Ra6+ Kh5 83.Kxf5 Rf3+ 84.Ke4 Kh4 85.Ra1

• If 85.Rh6+ then Black wins after 85...Kg3 86.Rg6 Rf8 87.Rd6 Kg2 88.Rd2+ Rf2.

85...Kh3 86.Rg1 Ra3 87.Kf4 g3 0-1

• In order to stop the pawn from queening, White must surrender his Rook.
• Alexander Sergeyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Jakovenko - Morozevich

Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Dmitry Jakovenko - Alexander Morozevich
Russian National Championship, Round 5
Moscow, 8 October 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Keres Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3

• (Maroczy Opening)If 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 then:
• 6...Qc7 7.a3 b6 8.Be3 Bb7 9.f3 d6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Rc1 0-0 13.b4 Rac8 14.Qd2 Qb8 then:
• 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Bf1 Bd8 17.Nb3 Bc7 18.Bf4 Ne5 19.Bg3 Rcd8 is equal (Kacheishvili-Safarli, Op, Istanbul, 2006).
• If 15.Kh1 then:
• 15...Bd8 16.Rc2 Bc7 17.Bg1 Rfe8 18.Rb1 Kh8 19.Na4 Ne5 20.c5 b5 is equal (Korbut-T. Vasilevich, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• 15...Rfe8 16.Rc2 Bd8 17.Na4 Bc7 18.Bg1 Ne5 19.c5 b5 20.cxd6 Bxd6 is equal (Salov-Flores, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 6...Bb4 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.0-0 e5 then:
• If 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 then:
• 11...Be6 12.Qe2 Be7 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.Bg3 0-0 15.f3 Re8 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.Bf2 Rec8 18.Rac1 Nc5 is equal (Blodig-Kustar, TT, Baviera, 2000).
• If 11...Bc5 12.Kh1 Qe7 13.f4 g5 then:
• If 14.fxe5!? Ng4 15.Bg3 Ne3 16.Qa4 Nxf1 17.Rxf1 then:
• If 17...Be6?! 18.Nd5 b5 then:
• If 19.Qc2?! cxd5 20.exd5 then:
• If 20...0-0? 21.Rf6! Bd7 22.Qe2 Kg7 23.Qe4 Rh8 24.e6 Be8 25.Be5 Qxf6 26.Bxf6+ Kxf6 27.d6 Rd8 28.Qf5+ Kg7 29.Qxc5 fxe6 30.Qe5+ Kg8 31.Qxe6+ Bf7 32.Qf6 Black resigns (Marshall-Pollard, Marshall CC Ch, New York, 1937).
• 20...Bc8 21.cxb5 Kd8 22.bxa6 Bxa6 23.d6 is equal.
• 19.Nxe7 bxa4 20.Nf5 Rb8 21.Bf2 Be7 leaves Black slightly better.
• 17...Bd7! 18.Qb3 0-0-0 19.Rf6 Be6 gives Black the upper hand.
• 14.fxg5 Ng4 15.Qa4 hxg5 16.Bg3 Qd6 Black wins.
• 10.Qc2 0-0 11.a3 Be7 12.Be2 Be6 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bxg4 Bxg4 15.Na4 Bg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc5 Rad8 19.Rfd1 Qe3+ 20.Qf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Bxc4 22.Nd7 Bb3 23.Rd3 Bc2 24.Rd2 Rfe8 25.Ke3 Bb3 26.Rc1 f6 is equal (Sterner-Gligoric, Op, Hastings, 1957).
• (Polugaevsky Variation)If 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 then:
• If 6...Be7 then:
• If 7.0-0 d6 8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.f4 b6 then:
• If 11.Be3 Bb7 12.Qf3 Qc7 then:
• 13.Qh3 h5 14.Kh1 g5 15.fxg5 Ng4 16.Bf4 Nde5 17.Be2 0-0-0 18.Bxe5 Nxe5 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Kb7 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.Nd4 Rdg8 23.Rac1 gives White an extra pawn and multiple threats (Sanikidze-Nestorovic, Euro Ch U16, Urgup, 2004).
• 13.Rae1 h5 14.Kh1 Ng4 15.Bg1 g5 16.a4 gxf4 17.Qxf4 Nge5 18.Be2 Rh7 19.a5 bxa5 20.Ra1 Rb8 21.Ba7 Rc8 22.Bg1 Rb8 23.Ba7 Rc8 24.Bg1 Rb8 25.Ba7 draw (Ushenina-Javakhishvili, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 13.Rad1 0-0 14.Qh3 Rfe8 15.Bb1 g6 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Bf8 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.Nd4 Qxc4 20.a3 Qf7 21.Ba2 d5 22.Nc2 Re5 23.Bd4 Bc5 24.Ne3 Qe7 25.Bxe5 Qxe5 26.Rfe1 gives White the exchange (Del Rio-Korneev, Op, Linares, 2003).
• 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Bd2 Bb7 13.Rae1 Rd8 14.Bb1 0-0 15.Kh1 Rc8 16.e5 Ne8 17.Bd3 g6 18.exd6 Nxd6 19.f5 Nxf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.cxd5 Qc4 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6+ draw (Goginenni-Vachier Lagrave, YWCC U16, Belfort, 2005).
• 7.Qg4 g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0-0 Nd7 10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 b6 12.Rae1 Bb7 13.Kh1 h5 14.Nd4 Ngf6 15.h3 h4 16.Nf3 Ne5 17.a4 Kf8 18.Bg5 Nh5 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Qe3 Nxf3 21.Qxf3 Qc5 22.Qg4 Rag8 23.Qe2 Nf4 24.Qe3 g5 25.f3 Qxe3 26.Rxe3 Rc8 27.Rd1 Rhd8 28.Kg1 d5 draw (Korneev-Epishin, Op, Reyjavik, 2004).
• If 6...Ba7 7.Qe2 Nc6 8.Be3 d6 then:
• If 9.0-0 Nf6 then:
• 10.Nc3 b5 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Qe3 0-0 13.Rfd1 Rd7 14.h3 Bb7 15.a4 b4 16.Ne2 Qc7 17.a5 Rc8 18.Ned4 Ne5 19.Qe2 Nc4 20.Rdc1 e5 21.Nf5 d5 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Nd2 Nxd2 24.Qxd2 Ne4 25.Qxb4 Nc5 26.Bf1 yields an extra pawn to White (Anand-Svidler, Blitz, Cap d'Agde, 2003).
• 10.N1d2 0-0 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Qe3 draw (Stojanovic-Predojevic, Op, Bar, 2005).
• 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.0-0 e5 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.a4 0-0 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Rfd1 Ng6 15.g3 Ra8 16.Nd5 Rc8 17.c3 Nce7 18.a5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Qc7 20.Rac1 Ne7 21.c4 Bxd5 22.exd5 b6 23.axb6 Qxb6 24.Qe3 Rb8 25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Na5 f6 27.c5 dxc5 28.Rxc5 Rd8 29.Nc4 Rb5 30.Rxb5 axb5 31.Ne3 Rd6 is equal (Naumann-ConNers (computer), IT, Lippstadt, 1999).

5...d6

• This game will take a Scheveningen flavor.
• 5...Qc7 and 5...Nc6 transpose into Taimanov lines.

6.g4

• If 6.Be3 Nf6 then:
• 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 16.bxa4 d5 17.e5 Nd7 is equal.
• 7.Be2 Be7 8.0-0 Nc6 9.a4 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nb3 b6 15.g4 Bc8 is equal.

6...b5

• If 6...Nc6 then:
• If 7.Be3 Nge7 8.Nb3 b5 9.f4 Bb7 10.Qd2 Na5 11.Nxa5 Qxa5 12.Bg2 then:
• 12...d5 13.Qf2 dxe4 14.f5 Nd5 15.fxe6 0-0-0 16.0-0 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qb4 is equal (Ponomariov-Bacrot, IT, Enghien les Bains, 1999).
• 12...b4 13.Ne2 h5 14.h3 Ng6 15.Bf2 Be7 16.g5 e5 17.f5 Nf4 18.Nxf4 Bxg5 19.Qxd6 exf4 20.0-0 Rd8 is equal (Carauna-Stellwagen, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).
• If 7...Nf6 8.g5 Nd7 9.h4 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.Qd2 0-0 11.0-0-0 Nxd4 then:
• If 12.Bxd4 b5 13.f4 b4 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.Ng3 then:
• 15...a5 16.Bg2 Qc7 17.Kb1 Nb6 18.f5 Nc4 19.Qf2 e5 20.f6 exd4 21.fxe7 Rfe8 22.Nf5 Ne3 23.Rxd4 Nxf5 24.exf5 Bxg2 25.Qxg2 Qxe7 26.f6 gives White the advantage in space and more activity (Kasperski-Svenn, Corres, 2002).
• 15...Qa5!? 16.Kb1 Rfe8 17.h5 e5 18.Bh3 Nf8 19.Be3 exf4 20.Bxf4 Rad8 21.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Abbasi-Shabalov, Op, Philadelphia, 1994).
• 12.Qxd4 b5 13.Rg1 Rb8 14.h5 b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Qd2 Nc5 17.f3 Be6 18.Kb1 Na4 19.b3 Qa5 20.g6 assures White a material advantage (Matras-Szymanowska, Polish Ch U20W, Brzeg Dolny, 2001).
• 9...Qc7 10.Qe2 b5 11.Nxc6 Qxc6 12.Bd4 Bb7 13.0-0-0 b4 14.Nd5 a5 15.f4 then:
• 15...0-0-0? 16.Bxg7! Rg8 17.Bxf8 exd5 18.exd5 Qc7 19.Be7 Rde8 20.Rh3 Nb6 21.Re3 Nxd5 22.Bh3+ Black resigns (I. Vasilevich-Mijovic, Euro Ch W, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 15...Ba6 16.Qe1 Rc8 17.Rd2 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Qa4 gives Black the advantage.

7.Bg2 Bb7 8.0-0

• 8.Be3 Nd7 9.Qe2 Rc8 10.0-0 Qc7 11.a4 b4 12.Na2 Ngf6 13.Nxb4 Qc4 14.Nd3 Bxe4 15.Ra3 Bxg2 16.Rc3 Qxc3 17.bxc3 Bxf1 18.Kxf1 d5 gives Black two Rooks for the Queen (Timman-Zapata, Op, Amsterdam, 1987).

8...Ne7!?

• If 8...Nd7 then:
• 9.g5 Ne7 10.f4 e5 11.Nf5 Nxf5 12.exf5 Qb6+ 13.Rf2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qb7+ 15.Qd5 0-0-0 16.a4 b4 17.Qxb7+ Kxb7 18.Nd5 a5 19.Be3 h6 20.g6 h5 21.Rd1 gives White the advantage in space (Ponomariov-<ilov, Op, Torshavn, 2000).
• 9.a4 bxa4 10.Rxa4 Nc5 11.Ra3 Nf6 12.Re1 e5 13.b4 Ncd7 14.g5 exd4 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxb7 dxc3 17.gxf6 gxf6 18.Qd5 Ra7 19.Rxa6 Rxa6 20.Bxa6 Rg8+ 21.Kh1 Rg4 22.Be3 Rxb4 23.Bb5 Rxb5 24.Qxb5 Qa8+ is equal (Hector-Nielsen, IT, Malmø, 2002).

9.f4

• The game is equal.
• 9.Be3 b4 10.Na4 Nd7 11.a3 Nf6 12.axb4 Nxe4 13.Qd3 gives White more activity; 13...d5 is forced.

9...Nbc6 10.Be3 Nxd4 11.Qxd4

• 11.Bxd4 Nc6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.a4 b4 14.Na2 Rc8 remains equal.

11...Nc6 12.Qd2

• 12.Qb6 Qxb6 13.Bxb6 Be7 14.Rad1 b4 15.Ne2 Rc8 remains equal.

12...Be7 13.Rad1 Rc8 14.Qf2

• 14.Qd3 Na5 15.Bd4 0-0 16.Ne2 Qc7 17.Bc3 Nc4 remains equal.

14...Bh4

• 14...b4 15.Bb6 Bh4 16.Qe3 Qe7 17.Ne2 g5 remains equal.

15.Qe2 Na5

• 15...0-0 16.Bc5 Be7 17.Qe3 b4 18.Ne2 Qc7 remains equal.

16.g5

• If 16.Bd4!? 0-0 17.g5 b4 then:
• If 18.Nb1 Nc6 19.Bc5 Qc7 20.Be3 then:
• If 20...Ne7 21.Qh5 Ng6 22.f5 then:
• 22...exf5 23.exf5 Bxg2 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Qxh4 Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Qxc2 27.Qxb4 Rb8 28.Qxd6 Rxb2 gives Black more activity.
• 22...Ne5 23.Qxh4 exf5 24.c3 Nc4 25.Qf2 Bxe4 26.Bxe4 fxe4 27.cxb4 Balck never makes up the material.
• 20...Na5 21.Nd2 Qxc2 22.Qg4 Qxb2 23.Qxh4 Rc2 24.Qg3 gives White a material advantage.
• 18.Na4 Bc6 19.Nb6 Bb5 20.Qh5 Rxc2 21.Qxh4 Nc6 22.Be3 Bxf1 remains equal.

16...Nc4

• If 16...0-0 17.Qg4 Nc4 18.Bd4 Nxb2 then:
• 19.Rb1 Nc4 20.Qxh4 Nd2 21.Qg3 Nxb1 22.Rxb1 remains equal.
• If 19.Qxh4 then:
• 19...Nxd1! 20.Rxd1 b4 21.Nb1 Rxc2 gives Black a more active game.
• 19...b4? 20.Nd5 exd5 21.Bxb2 dxe4 22.Qf2 Rc4 23.Rd4 gives White excellent chances to play for a win.

17.Bd4

• 17.Bc1 Qb6+ 18.Kh1 0-0 19.Rd3 f6 20.Qg4 gives White the more active game.

17...e5

• 17...Nxb2 18.Rb1 e5 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Bxe5 Nc4 21.Bxg7 Rg8 remains equal.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
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WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 17...e6e5

18.Bxe5!

• If 18.Bf2?! Nxb2 19.Bxh4 Rxc3 20.Rb1 then:
• If 20...Na4 21.fxe5 Rc7! 22.exd6 Qxd6 then:
• 23.Qf2 Qe6 24.Bg3 Rc4 25.Qa7 Bc8 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 23.Bg3 Qb6+ 24.Kh1 Nc3 gives Black the active game and more space.
• 20...Nc4 21.Rb3 Rxb3 22.axb3 Nb6 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.Rxf7 is equal.

18...Bxg5 19.Bxg7

• 19.Bd4 Bh6 20.Nd5 0-0 21.Qh5 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 Qh4 remains equal.

19...Rg8 20.Bd4 Bf6 21.Bxf6?!

• 21.b3 Na3 22.Nd5 Bxd4+ 23.Rxd4 Rxc2 24.Rd2 gives White a small advantage in space and the more active position.

21...Qxf6 22.Nd5 Qxb2 23.e5 Kf8 24.Rf2

• If 24.exd6 Re8 then:
• 25.Qh5 Qg7 26.Qg5 Nxd6 White is fighting for a draw.
• 25.Qf2 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 Ne3 Black wins the exchange.

24...Bxd5

• 24...dxe5?! 25.Nf6 Rg7 26.Nxh7+ Ke7 27.Ng5 Bxg2 28.Rxg2 Qa3 is equal.

25.Rxd5 Re8 26.Kh1

• If 26.Qf3 then Black wins a pawn by 26...dxe5 27.fxe5 Rg7 28.h3 Qxa2.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
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WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 26.Kg1h1

26...dxe5!

• Black wins the pawn.

27.fxe5 Nxe5 28.Qf1

• 28.Rf1 Ng4 29.Qd2 Ne3 30.Rd8 Kg7 31.Rxe8 Rxe8 leaves Black a pawn to the good in a more avtive position.

28...Qc3 29.Rd7

• If 29.a4 bxa4 30.Qxa6 Rg6 31.Qxa4 Ng4 then:
• If 32.Rf1 Ne3 33.Rd3 Qe5 then:
• 34.Rxe3 Qxe3 35.Qd7 Re7 36.Qd8+ Kg7 37.c4 Qe2 Black tightens the mating net.
• After 34.Qa3+ Kg8 35.Rxe3 Qxe3 36.Qa2 Rg7 37.Bd5 Qh3 Black threatens mate.
• If 32.Rdf5 Nxf2+ 33.Rxf2 Re1+ 34.Bf1 Ra1 35.Qb5 Rd1 then Black wins quickly, eeg.:
• If 36.Qb7 Rf6 37.Qa8+ Kg7 38.Qg2+ Rg6 39.Qe4 Qa1 40.Qf3 Qf6.
• 36.Qf5 Qc6+ 37.Qf3 Rc1 38.Qxc6 Rxc6 39.Kg2 R6xc2.

29...Re7 30.Rxe7

• If 30.Rd8+ Kg7 31.Rxg8+ Kxg8 32.Bd5 Kh8 Black has an extra pawn and more activity.
• After 31.Rd6 Ng4 32.Rfd2 Rge8 33.R6d3 Qxd2 34.Rxd2 Re1 Black wins back the Queen and remains a pawn up.

30...Kxe7 31.Bd5 Rg6 32.Be4

• If 32.Qe2 Rf6 33.Rg2 Qd4 then:
• 34.Be4 Qa1+ 35.Rg1 Qxa2 36.Bxh7 Qe6 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 34.Bb7 Re6 35.Rg1 b4 36.Rd1 Qc4 37.Qd2 Nc6 gives Black more freedom.

32...Rg7 33.Re2

• After 33.Bb7 h6 34.Qe2 Rg6 35.Rf5 Rg5 White must retreat in order to preserve his Rook.

33...f6

• Also good is 33...b4 34.Qf2 Kf8 35.Bg2 Rg5 36.Bd5 Kg7.

34.Qf2 Qc7

• More aggressive is 34...Rg4 35.Re1 Ke8 36.Qe2 Rh4.

35.Re1 h5 36.Bg2

• A more stubborn defense is 36.Qf5 h4 37.Rf1 Ng4 38.Rf4 Qd6.

36...Rg5 37.h3 Kf7 38.Rf1 Qd6 39.Qa7+ Kg6 40.Qa8

• Moving the Queen along the long diagonal is White's best chance.
• If 40.Be4+ f5 41.Qa8 Qe6 42.Bd5 Qf6 43.Bb7 h4 44.Bxa6 Rg3 45.Rg1 Rxg1+ 46.Kxg1 Qg5+ 47.Qg2 b4 gives Black a clear winning advantage.
• After 45.Qe8+ Kh6 46.Kh2 Qd6 47.Qh8+ Kg5 48.Qg7+ Ng6 49.Rg1 Black mates as follows: 49...Rg4+ 50.Kh1 Qc6+ 51.Kh2 Qxc2+ 52.Kh1 Qe4+ 53.Kh2 Qe2+ 54.Kh1 Qf3+ 55.Kh2 Qf2+ 56.Kh1 Rxg1#.

After 42.Bb7 h4 43.Re1 f4 44.Qxa6 Kf7 45.Qxe6+ Kxe6 Black continues to hold the advantage.

40...Kg7 41.Qa7+?!

• If 41.Qc8 Kf7 42.Qb7+ Ke8 then:
• If 43.Re1 Kf8 44.Qc8+ Kf7 45.Qb7+ Kg6 White retains the extra pawn.
• If 43.Qa8+ Ke7 then:
• If 44.Qb7+ Nd7 45.Bc6 Qe6 then:
• 46.Qxd7+ Qxd7 47.Bxd7 Kxd7 48.Rxf6 Rg3 gives Black the passed pawn in a Rook ending, but White's chances of survival are better than the text.
• If 46.Kh2 then 46...Qe2+ 47.Bg2 Qxc2 wins another pawn.
• 44.Re1 Rg3 45.Qe4 Kf8 46.Qa8+ Kf7 47.Qe4 Rg5 Black maintains the material advantage.
• 41.Qb7+ Kf8 42.Qa8+ Ke7 43.Qb7+ Nd7 Black has the upper hand.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
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WHITE: Dmitry Jakovenko
Position after 41.Qa8a7+

41...Nf7!

• This simple defensive move refutes White's thrust with the Queen.

42.Qb7 a5 43.Qf3?

• White neglects the menacing queenside advance.
• 43.c3! Qg3 44.Qc6 f5 45.Rg1 f4 46.a3 Qe3 White's position, while cramped, is proving a tough nut to crack.

43...b4 44.Rd1

• 44.c3 is now too late: 44...Qe5 45.cxb4 axb4 46.Rb1 Nd6 47.Qa8 Qc5 48.Qf3 h4 49.Re1 Qc3 50.Re7+ Kg6 Black remains a pawn to the good.
• 47.Rd1 Nf5 48.Qb7+ Kh6 49.Qa8 Ne3 allows Black to exchange down to a Queen ending while a pawn to the good.

44...Qe6!

• Black finds another fine defensive move that prevents a White attack.
• If 44...Qg3?! 45.Qc6 f5 46.Rg1 f4 47.Qb7! h4 48.Qc6 Qe3 49.Rf1! Rg3 50.Qd5 a4 51.Kh2 Rg5 52.Qe4 Qg3+ 53.Kh1 f3 54.Qxf3 Qxf3 55.Rxf3 Rc5 Black will regain his pawn plus, but a win is problematic.
• After 51...Rxh3+ 52.Bxh3 Qg3+ 53.Kh1 Qxh3+ 54.Kg1 Qe3+ 55.Kh1 Black can make little progress.

49.a4 Rg3 50.Rf1 f3 51.Rxf3 Rxf3 52.Qxf3 Qc1+ 53.Kh2 Qxc2 wins a pawn,

47.Rf1? Ne5 48.Qc7+ Kg6 49.Be4+ Kf6 50.Qd8+ Kg7 gives White another pawn.

45.Rf1 Nd6 46.Rd1

• If 46.Qc6 Qe2 then:
• If 47.Rg1 Nf5 then:
• 48.Rb1 Ne3 49.Qb7+ Kh6 50.Bf3 Qf2 51.Qc6 Rg6 Black has an effective mating attack.
• After 48.Qd7+ Qe7 49.Qxe7+ Nxe7 50.Bf3 Kh6 51.Kh2 Rc5 Black will win a pawn.
• 47.Qd7+ Nf7 48.Qc6 f5 49.Rg1 f4 50.a4 bxa3 is strong for Black, who has a good chance of obtaining an outside passer.

46...Nf5 47.Qb7+

• After 47.Qa8 Nh4 48.Bf1 Qf5 49.Qb7+ Kh6 50.Qa8 Qf3+ 51.Qxf3 Nxf3 52.Bg2 Nh4 the Bishop vacates and the f-pawn advances.

47...Kh6 48.Rd8 Qe1+ 49.Kh2 Qe5+ 50.Kg1 Rg7

• Stronger is 50...Rg3! 51.Rh8+ Kg5 when:
• After 52.Qc6 Nd4! 53.Rg8+ Kh4 54.Qc4 Qe3+ wins the Rook.
• After 52.Rd8 Ne3! 53.Rg8+ Kh4 54.Rxg3 Qxg3 Black can win by exchanging pieces.

51.Rh8+ Kg5 52.Qc6

• If 52.Qf3 Qe3+ 53.Qf2 Rc7 then:
• 54.h4+ Kg6 55.Qxe3 Nxe3 56.Be4+ f5 57.Bd3 Rc3 White's c-pawn falls.
• If 54.Rg8+ then 54...Kh6 55.Qxe3+ Nxe3 56.Be4 f5 57.Bd3 Rc5 Black wins another pawn.

52...Qe1+ 53.Kh2 Qe5+ 54.Kg1 Nd4!

• Turn out the lights, the party's over. . .

55.Qc4 Kh4 56.Qd3 Ne2+ 57.Kf1 Nf4 0-1

• If 58.Qe4 then 58...Rxg2! 59.Qxe5 fxe5 wins a piece.
• Dmitry Olegovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Short - Hossain, Commonwealth Open, Round 10, Nagpur

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

To view this game you will need a PGN viewer and the ability to unpack a zipped file.

• Please click here;
• About halfway down the page, click on All games in zipped PGN (1295 games, 280 KB).
• Unzip the file;
• Open the file in your PGN viewer;
• Select game 1038 (Short,N-Hossain,Enam, 1-0, 2008.10.05;
• Enjoy!

Nigel Short - Hossain Enamul
Commonwealth Open. Round 10
Nagpur, 5 October 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense

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

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

7...a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5

• If 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 then:
• If 10...f5 11.Bd3 Be6 then:
• 12.c4 fxe4 13.Bxe4 Rc8 14.0-0 is equal (Hou Yifan-Krush, IT, Istanbul, 2008).
• If 12.Qh5 then:
• If 12...Rg8 13.g3 Rg5 14.Qd1 Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.c3 Bh6 17.Be2 Qb6 18.Nc2 Kf8 19.a4 bxa4 20.Nb4 f4 21.Qxa4gives White the advantage in space (Leko-Acs, IT, Budapest, 2003).
• 12...Bg7 13.0-0 f4 14.c4 bxc4 15.Bxc4 0-0 16.Rac1 Rb8 17.b3 Qd7 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.Qh4 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Nb4 21.Nc4 Nxa2 22.Rc2 Nb4 23.Rcd2 gives White a comfortable advatage in space (Grischuk-Ivanchuk, Grand Prix, Moscow, 2002).
• If 12.0-0 Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne7 then:
• 14.c3 Bg7 15.Qh5 e4 16.Bc2 Qc8 17.Rae1 0-0 18.Kh1 Ng6 19.Bb1 Re8 20.f3 b4 21.cxb4 Bxb2 22.Nc2 Bc3 23.Re2 Qc4 24.fxe4 Rxe4 25.Ref2 Re5 26.Qh3 f4 27.Na3 Qxb4 28.Bxg6 fxg6 29.Nc2 Qb2 30.Qd3 Ba5 31.Nd4 Qc3 32.Qxc3 Bxc3 33.Ne6 h5 34.Rxf4 Rb8 offers few chances to either side (Bologan-Filippov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).
• 14.c4 Bg7 15.Rb1 e4 16.Be2 0-0 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Bxb2 19.Nc4 Bg7 20.a4 Ng6 21.Qh5 Qf6 22.Ne3 f4 23.Nf5 Ne7 24.Bd7 Ra7 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 26.Bf5 h6 27.Rb4 gives White the advantage in space with an attack concentrated on Black's weakened kingside (Areshchenko-Shirov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• If 10...Bg7 then:
• If 11.c3 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Nc2 0-0 14.Nce3 Be6 15.Bd3 f5 16.Qh5 e4 17.Bc2 Ne7 18.Rd1 b4 19.0-0 bxc3 20.bxc3 Kh8 21.g3 Rc8 22.Bb3 Bf7 23.Qe2 Bxd5 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Bxd5 a5 26.c4 Rb8 draw (Ponomariov-Leko. World Teams, Yerevan, 2001).
• 18.Nf4 Bf7 19.Bb3 d5 20.Qg5 Ng6 21.Qxd8 Raxd8 22.Nexd5 Nxf4 23.Nxf4 b4 24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.Bxe6+ draw (Anand-Kramnik, IT, Frankfurt, 2001).
• 13...Be6 14.g3 0-0 15.Bg2 a5 16.0-0 Rb8 17.Qe2 f5 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.Rd2 e4 20.Nce3 b4 21.Nf4 Bg8 22.cxb4 Rxb4 23.Rad1 Qe8 gives Black an overwhelming advantage in space (Tsvetkov-Pankratov, Corr, 2002).
• 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.c3 f5 14.Nc2 Qb7 15.Qf3 0-0 16.Qe3 f4 17.Qh3 Rd8 gives White a clear adavantage in space (Grischuk-Jakovenko, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2003).

9...Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Ne7

• If 11...0-0 12.Nc2 then:
• If 12...Bg5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 Kh8 then:
• 17.Nce3 g6 18.Qe2 f5 19.h4 Bxe3 20.Qxe3 fxe4 21.h5 g5 22.Qxe4 Bb7 23.Qe3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space(Anand-Shirov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• 17.0-0 f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Nce3 Bg6 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Rxf1+ 23.Qxf1 Rxb3 24.Rc4 Rb5 25.Nc7 Rb6 26.Nd5 Rb5 27.Nc7 draw (Bologan-Timofeev, IT, Sarajevo, 2005).
• 12...Rb8 13.Be2 Bg5 14.0-0 a5 15.Qd3 Be6 16.Rfd1 Kh8 17.Bf3 Qd7 18.Nce3 g6 19.Qe2 Rfd8 20.g3 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Bg2 Rf8 gives White a modest advantage in space (Santos-Chandler, Team M, Cannes, 1992).
• If 11...Bg5 12.Nc2 Ne7 then:
• If 13.h4 Bh6 14.a4 bxa4 15.Ncb4 0-0 then:
• If 16.Qxa4 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 a5 18.Bb5 then:
• 18...Be6 19.Bc6 Rb8 20.b4 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 axb4 22.cxb4 Qb6 23.Rb1 Kh8 24.0-0 f5 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Leko-Carlsen, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• 18...Kh8 19.b4 f5 20.Bc6 Ra7 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.bxa5 Bd3 23.Bb5 Bxb5 24.Qxb5 Raf7 25.0-0 Qxh4 26.Qe2gives White a slight advantage in that White can meet the mating threat 26...Rf5/27...Rh5/28...Qh1 and still be able to advance his a-pawn (Karjakin-Shirov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 16.Rxa4 a5 17.Bc4 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Bd7 19.Bxa8 Bxa4 20.Qxa4 axb4 21.Bd5 bxc3 22.bxc3 Qf6 23.Qa7 gives White an advatage in space, but Black threatens 24.Qf4 followed by 25.Qc1+ winning the Rook (Domínguez-Ni Hua, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).
• 13.Ncb4 0-0 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bd7 17.Qd1 a5 18.Bc4 Kh8 19.0-0 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Qe2 Qb8 22.Rfd1 Be6 23.Kh1 Ra7 24.f3 Bd7 25.Bd3 g6 26.Be4 Be6 27.g3 Bd8 28.h4 Raf7 gives White the edge in space (Korneev-Moiseenko, Euro ChT, Fügen (Austria), 2005).

12.Nxf6+

• 12.Nc2 Bg5 13.Ncb4 0-0 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bd7 transposes into Korneev-Moiseenko, in the blue notes to Black's 11th move.

12...gxf6 13.Bd3

• If 13.c4 Bb7 14.Bd3 Rg8 15.Rg1 bxc4 16.Nxc4 d5 17.exd5 Qxd5 then:
• If 18.Qa4+? Kf8 19.0-0-0 Rxg2! then:
• 20.Bxh7 Rxg1 21.Rxg1 Rc8 22.b3 Qd4 23.Qb4 Qa1+ Black wins (Kostenko-So, Asian ChT, Tehran, 2007).
• If 20.Rxg2 then after 20...Qxg2 21.Bxh7 Rc8 22.Bd3 Bf3 Black wins material.
• If 18.Nd6+ Kf8 19.Nxb7 Qxb7 is equal.

13...d5

• 13...Bb7 14.Nc2 d5 15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Ne3 Qe6 17.Qh5 0-0-0 18.Bc2 Kb8 19.Bb3 Qc6 20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 Ng6 is equal (Pruess-Stopa, USCL, Cyberspace, 2006).

14.Qe2 Bb7 15.0-0-0 Qb6 16.f3!?

• The novelty is good for equality.
• 16.f4 0-0-0 17.fxe5 fxe5 18.exd5 Rxd5 19.c4 Rc5 20.Rhf1 Rf8 is equal (Dhapiro-Barbosa, Cyberspace, 2002).

16...b4

• If 16...Rc8 17.Kb1 b4 18.cxb4 then:
• 18...Qxb4 19.Bxa6 Bxa6 20.Qxa6 gives White an extra pawn.
• 18...Ng6 19.Qd2 Nf4 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Bc4 gives White an extra pawn.

17.cxb4

• 17.Nb1 Qa5 18.a3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Rb8 20.Rd2 d4 21.c4 is better for Black, who should castle and begin aggressive operations on the queenside.

17...Qxb4 18.Kb1

• 18.Rd2 0-0 19.Re1 Rac8+ 20.Kd1 Rfd8 gives Black more freedom.

18...Rb8 19.Qd2 Qb6 20.Qh6

• 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Nc4 Bxc4 22.Bxc4 0-0 23.Bb3 Nf5 gives Black an advantage in space.

20...Rg8!?

• The game is equal.
• 20...d4 21.Rd2 Ng6 22.Nc4 Qe6 is equal.

21.Rd2 Rg6?

• If 21...Rh8? 22.Qg7 then:
• 22...Rf8 23.Qxh7 d4 24.h4 Ng6 25.Nc4 Qb4 26.h5 leaves White with an extra pawn.
• 22...Rg8 23.Qxh7 transposes into the text.
• 22...Ng6 23.exd5 Ke7 24.Nc4 Qc5 25.d6+ Ke6 26.Ne3! and now if 26...Qxe3 then White wins the Queen by 27.Bc4+ Kf5 28.g4+ Kg5 29.h4+ Kf4 30.Qh6+ Kxf3 31.Rh3+.
• 21...Qb4! 22.exd5 Bxd5 then:
• 23.Ka1 f5 24.Rhd1 e4 25.Bb1 exf3 26.g3 f4 is equal.
• 23.Qe3 Ng6 24.Rhd1 Nh4 25.Bf1 Nf5 is equal.

BLACK: Hossain Enamul
!""""""""#
$ T +l+ +%
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WHITE: Nigel Short
Position after 21...Rg8g6

22.Qxh7!

• Once more, we quote Steinitz: A pawn is worth a little trouble.
• The play Black gets for the pawn will quickly evaporates, leaving White in command.

22...Qe3 23.Rhd1 Kf8

• If 23...Rh6 24.Qg7 Qg5 25.Qxg5! fxg5 26.exd5 then:
• After 26...Nxd5 27.h3 Ke7 28.Be4 White keeps the pawn.
• 26...Bxd5 27.h3 Rc6 28.b3 f6 29.Nc2 White remains a pawn to the good.

24.Qh8+ Ng8
BLACK: Hossain Enamul
!""""""""#
$ T + LmQ%
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WHITE: Nigel Short
Position after 24...Ne7g8

25.exd5!

• The text is more aggressive than

25.Re2 Qh6 26.Qxh6+ Rxh6 27.exd5 Rd8 28.Be4 Rxh2 29.d6, which also leaves White with an extra pawn and an strong position.
25...Bxd5

• No better is

25...Rh6 26.Bh7 Qg5 27.Nc4 Rxh2 28.Nd6 Rxg2 29.Ne4.
26.Nc4

• Winning faster is 26.Ka1 Rg5 27.Bxa6 Qb6 28.Bc4.

26...Bxc4 27.Bxc4 Qb6

• Also failing is 27...Re8 28.Rd7 Rg7 29.Qh3 Qb6 30.R7d6.

28.Qh7 Rg7 29.Qd3 Rg6 30.Qa3+ Kg7 31.Qxa6 1-0

• Hossain resigns.
• White's last two moves, differing from other published scores of the game, are provided by Mr. Short.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shirov - Cyberowski, Bundesliga, Round 1, Trier (Germany)

Alexei Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

To view this game:

• Please click here;
• From the list in the upper left, select Partien;
• Form the row Runde 1, select Online on the far right;
• Loading the display board may take a minute;
• From the list underneath the display board, select game 17 Shirov,Alexei Cyborowski,Lukasz, 1-0, 10-04-2008;
• Enjoy.

Alexei Shirov (Baden Baden) - Lukasz Cyborowski (Trier)
Bundesliga 0809, Round 1
Trier, 4 October 2008

Epine Dorsal: Rat Defense (Lion Opening) (Phildor Defense)

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.g4!?

• This interesting pawn sacrifice has become popular as of late. White has gotten good results with it.

5...Nxg4 6.Rg1 Ngf6

• 6...exd4 7.Nxd4 Nde5 8.h3 Nf6 9.f4 Ng6 10.Be3 c6 11.Qf3 Bd7 12.0-0-0 a6 13.Qf2 Qc7 14.Nf3 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.Ng5 gives White a more active game in compensation for his pawn.(Willemze-Hedke, Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).

7.Bc4 h6 8.Be3 Nb6

• If 8...c6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qd3 then:
• 10...Nh5 11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Nxe5+ Nxe5 13.Qxd8 Nf3+ 14.Kd1 Nxg1 15.Kc1 Nh3 16.f4 Bc5 17.Qc7+ Be7 18.Bc5 Re8 19.f5 Kf8 20.Bxe7+ Rxe7 21.Qd8+ Kf7 22.b3 Nf6 23.Kb2 Ng5 24.Rg1 Rd7 25.Qh8 Re7 26.Qd8 Rd7 27.Qh8 Re7 draw (Shirov-Shaw, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).
• 10...Qc7 11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Qc4+ Ke7 13.Nh4 Nb6 14.Ng6+ Ke8 15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nxh8 g5 17.Ng6 Bc5 18.0-0-0 Black resigns (Shirov-Klinova, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).

9.Bb3!?

• 9.Bb5+ c6 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.exd6 Nxe3 12.fxe3 Qxd6 13.Qxd6 Bxd6 14.Bd3 g5 15.e5 Bb4 16.Ke2 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Be6 18.a4 Nd7 19.a5 g4 20.Nd4 Nxe5 21.Be4 Ke7 22.Kf2 Bd5 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.Rgb1 Rab8 gives Black an extra pawn (Williams-Tahirov, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).

9...exd4 10.Qxd4

• 10.Nxd4 Qe7 11.Qd3 Ng4 12.0-0-0 g5 13.Rde1 c6 gives White the advantage in space.

10...Bg4 11.Rg3 c5 12.Qd3 Rc8

• 12...Qd7 13.Qb5 Be6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.0-0-0 g5 16.Qb3 White still has the advantage in space.

13.e5 dxe5?

• White is better developed, therefore Black should keep the center closed.
• 13...Bxf3 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Bxc5 Rxc5 16.Rxf3 Re5+ is equal.

BLACK: Lukasz Cyborowski
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 13...de5:p

14.Nxe5!

• White takes immediate advantage of Black's error.

14...Bh5

• If 14...Qxd3 15.Bxf7+ then:
• 15...Kd8 16.cxd3 Bd6 17.Nxg4 Bxg3 18.Nxf6 Bxh2 19.Nfe4 gives White a more active game.
• 15...Ke7 16.cxd3 Bf5 17.Bg6 Ke6 18.Bxf5+ Kxf5 19.Ng6 leaves White threatening to win material.

15.Qf5 Bd6

• If 15...Qe7 16.Rh3 then:
• White wins after 16...g6 17.Qf4! g5 18.Qf5 Bg7 19.Rxh5 Nxh5 20.Bxf7+ Kd8 21.0-0-0+.
• 17.Bxf7+? Qxf7 18.Nxf7 gxf5 19.Nxh8 Bg7 traps the Knight, assuring Black the material edge.

16.Ne4 Qe7

• After 16...Kf8 17.Nxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxh5 Bxe5 19.Rf3 g6 20.Qg4 White haas multiple threats.

17.Nxd6+ Qxd6 18.Rxg7 Rc7

• This is practically forced to protect the f-pawn.

BLACK: Lukasz Cyborowski
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 18...Rc8c7

19.Bxf7+!!

• The sacrifice of the Bishop nails down the victory.

19...Bxf7 20.Rd1 Nbd5

• If 20...Bd5 21.Rxc7 Rg8 22.f4 Qxc7 23.Qxf6 Rf8 24.Qxh6 leaves White two pawns up with a fierce attack.

21.Nxf7 Qxh2 22.Nxh8 Rxg7 23.Qc8+ 1-0

• 23...Ke7 24.Bxc5+ wins the Queen.
• Grandmaster Cyborowski resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Anand-Kramnik preview

This week we continue our preview of the upcoming World Championship Match between reigning champion Vishy Anand and former title holder Vladimir Kramnik.

Last week, we looked at one outstanding game played and won by each grandmaster. This week, we look at two games from their head-to-head competition, one victory by each man.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Anand-Kramnik, IT, Tilburg, 1998

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
International Tournament, Round 2
Tilburg, 23 October 1998

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

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 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.Re1

• If 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 then:
• 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).
• If 10...Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 then:
• 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:
• 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).

8...Bg4 9.c3

• If 9.c4 Nf6 10.cxd5 then:
• If 10...Nxd5 11.Nc3 0-0 then:
• If 12.h3 Be6 13.a3 Bf6 then:
• 14.Ne4 Bf5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Ne4 draw (Balashov-Bronstein, City Ch, Moscow, 1982).
• If 14.Na4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qxd4 b6 18.Nc3 draw (Psakhis-Karpov, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1983).
• If 12.Be4 Be6 13.Qc2 h6 then:
• If 14.Bf5 Ncb4 15.Qb1 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Bf6 17.a3 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Nd5 19.Bd2 c6 20.Re4 Ne7 21.Qg4 Kh7 22.c4 Qc8 23.Qxc8 Rfxc8 24.Bb4 gives White the more active game (Machulsky-Jussupow, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1978).
• If 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 then:
• 16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Bf6 18.Rb1 b6 19.Ba3 Be7 20.Bb2 Bf6 21.Qe4 Qd7 22.c4 Rae8 is equal (Nevostrujev-Kopylov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).
• 16...Nf6 17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Be5 Ne7 19.Qh3 Ng6 20.Rad1 Re8 21.Re3 Kg8 22.Qg3 Nh5 23.Qg4 Nf6 24.Qg3 Nh5 draw (Tal-Karpov, 1983).
• If 10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Qxd5 12.Qxd5 Nxd5 13.Nc3 then:
• 13...Ndb4 14.Be4 Nxd4 15.Be3 c5 16.Bxb7 Rd8 is equal (Beliavsky-Timman, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 13...0-0-0 14.Be4 Bb4 15.Bxd5 Rxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxe1 17.Nxc7 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Kxc7 is equal (Ljuboevic-Tal, IT, Bugojno, 1984).

9...f5 10.Qb3 0-0 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Qa4

• 12.Qc2 Nc6 13.b4 a6 14.a4 Bd6 transposes into the next note.

12...Nc6 13.Bb5

• If 13.Qb3 then:
• If 13...Na5 14.Qc2 Nc6 15.b4 a6 16.a4 Bd6 17.Ba3 then:
• 17...Kh8 18.b5 axb5 19.Bxd6 cxd6 20.axb5 Na5 21.h3 Bh5 22.Nh2 Rc8 23.Ra3 b6 24.Ndf1 f4 Black has more freedom, but White's position is solid (Ponomariov-Adams, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• 17...Rf6 18.b5 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 Bxf3 20.bxc6 Rg6 21.g3 bxc6 22.Bxd6 cxd6 23.Bxf5 Rf6 24.Qd3 g6 25.Qxf3 Rxf5 26.Qe2 Rf7 is equal (Morozevich-Karpov, IT, Prague, 2002).
• 13...Kh8 14.Qxb7 Rf6 15.Qb3 Rg6 16.Bb5 Nxd2 17.Nxd2 Bd6 18.g3 Ne7 19.Bf1 f4 20.Bg2 Rb8 21.Qc2 Nf5 22.Qd3 c6 23.Nf3 fxg3 24.hxg3 Nxg3 25.fxg3 Bxf3 26.Qxf3 Rxg3 27.Qf7 gives White an extra piece (Smeets-Bayram, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).

13...Nxd2

• If 13...Bh4 14.g3 Bf6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Qxc6 then:
• 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).

14.Nxd2 Qd6 15.h3!?

• After the novelty, White is slightly better.
• 15.Nb3 Bh4 16.Rf1 f4 17.f3 Bf5 18.Nc5 Qg6 19.Qd1 Bh3 20.Qd2 Rae8 21.Nd3 a6 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Ne5 Rxe5 24.dxe5 Be6 25.Qd4 Bh3 26.Qd2 Be6 27.Qd4 draw (Anand-Jussupow, IT, Linares, 1993).

15...Bh5 16.Nb3

• 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Nb3 Rfe8 18.Nc5 Bh4 is equal.

16...Bh4 17.Nc5
BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 17.Nb3c5

17...Bxf2+?

• This is a terrible blunder. One cannot fathom what Kramnik thought he saw.
• 17...Nd8 18.Be8 Bxe8 19.Rxe8 b6 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Nd3 gives White a small advantage in space, but nothing else.

18.Kxf2 Qh2 19.Bxc6

• Also good is 19.Qb3 Bf7 20.Qd1 Na5 21.Qf3 Qd6 22.Bf4 when White remains a piece to the good.

19...bxc6 20.Qxc6 f4 21.Qxd5+ Kh8 22.Qxh5

• White is now two pieces to the good.

22...f3

• 22...Qg3+ 23.Kf1 f3 24.gxf3 Rxf3+ 25.Ke2 Raf8 26.Kd2 gains Black nothing, not even a figleaf.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$t+ + T L%
$O O + Oo%
$ + + + +%
$+ N + +q%
$ + P + +%
$+ P +o+p%
$pP + KpW%
$R B R + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 22...f4f3

23.Qxf3!!

• What should one do when he is two pieces ahead against a future world champion? Why, sacrifice one's Queen to make quick work of the game, what else? That's also playing like a future world champion.
• Also good is 23.Bf4 fxg2 24.Ke3 Qxf4+ 25.Kd3 Qf3+ 26.Qxf3 Rxf3+ 27.Kc4, leaving White a piece to the good.

23...Rxf3+ 24.Kxf3 Rf8+

• In spite of sacrificing his Queen, White is still theoretically a piece to the good.
• If 24...Qd6 then White wins easily after 25.Kf2 Rf8+ 26.Kg1 Qg3 27.Be3.

25.Ke2 Qxg2+ 26.Kd3 Qxh3+ 27.Kc2

• Also good is 27.Kc4 h5 28.a3 Qg2 29.b3 h4 30.Be3.

27...Qg2+

• 27...h5 28.Bd2 h4 29.Re5 Kg8 30.Rae1 goes nowhere.

28.Bd2 Qg6+ 29.Re4 h5 30.Rae1 Re8

• For what it matters, the text is better than 30...Rf2 31.Nd3 Rh2 32.Re7 Qg5 33.R1e2.

31.Kc1 Rxe4

• No better is 31...Rf8 32.Re7 Qd6 33.R1e6 Qg3 34.Rc6.

32.Nxe4 h4

• 32...Qg4 33.Ng5 Qd7 34.Bf4 h4 35.Bxc7 Kg8 36.d5 is also hopeless.

33.Ng5 Qh5 34.Re3 Kg8 35.c4 1-0

• White remains theoretically a piece to the good.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Kramnik - Anand, Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund, 2001

Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 9
Dortmund, 21 July 2001

Open Queen's Gambit: Rubinstein Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 e6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.Bb3

• If 7.Qe2 b5 then:
• If 8.Bb3 Bb7 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Nc3 then:
• If 10...Qb8 11.d5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Rxd5 Be7 15.e4 Qb7 16.Bg5 Nb6 17.Rad1 f6 18.Bf4 0-0 19.R5d2 Rfe8 20.e5 then:
• 20...Bf8 21.Qd3 Nc4 22.Re2 fxe5 23.Bxe5 Nxe5 24.Nxe5 c4 25.Qf5 Qe7 26.Re3 Rad8 is equal (S. Atalik-Topalov, IT, Sarajevo, 2001).
• 20...fxe5 21.Qxe5 Bf8 22.Qg5 Qe7 23.Qxe7 Rxe7 24.b3 a5 25.Rd8 Rxd8 26.Rxd8 Rd7 27.Rxd7 Nxd7 28.Bc7 gives White the more active game Ivanchuk-Seirawan, IT, Tilburg, 1990).
• 10...Qc7 11.d5 c4 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bc2 Bd6 14.e4 0-0 15.h3 Rae8 16.Nd4 Bc5 is equal (Del Borgo-I. Radziewicz Rajlich, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2005).
• 8.Bd3 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.a4 bxa4 11.Rxa4 Bb7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 Nc6 14.Rd1 a5 15.d5 Nxd5 16.Rh4 g6 17.Ne4 Nd4 18.Nxd4 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Qxg5 20.Nf3 Qf6 21.Rd4 Rfd8 22.Qe5 Qxe5 23.Nxe5 f6 24.Nc4 e5 25.Rxd5 Bxd5 26.Nb6 Bb3 White resigns (Lputian-Tal, Yerevan, 1982).
• If 7.a4 Nc6 then:
• If 8.Qe2 cxd4 9.Rd1 Be7 10.exd4 0-0 11.Nc3 then:
• If 11...Nd5 then:
• 12.Bd3 Ncb4 13.Bb1 b6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.Ra3 Rc8 16.Nxd5 Qxd5 17.Rg3 f5 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Rxg5 Rc7 20.h4 Rfc8 21.h5 Qd8 22.Qd2 Qf6 23.Rg3 Nd5 24.h6 draw (Browne-Panno, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• 12.Qe4 Nf6 13.Qh4 Nd5 14.Qg4 Nf6 15.Qh4 Ne4 draw
• 11...Nb4 12.Ne5 Nfd5 13.Ne4 b6 14.Ra3 f5 15.Rh3 fxe4 16.Qxe4 h5 17.Be2 h4 18.Ng6 Ra7 19.Nxf8 Qxf8 20.Bg4 Qf7 21.Rf3 Nf6 22.Qe1 Nbd5 23.Bg5 Bd6 24.Rc1 Rc7 25.Rxc7 Bxc7 26.Bh3 Bd7 is equal (Browne-Christiansen, Op, San Fransisco, 1977).
• If 8.Nc3 Be7 9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 e5 11.exd4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qe5 Qd6 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.Rxd4 Bc5 16.Rd1 0-0 17.Bg5 then:
• 17...Be6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Ne4 Bb4 21.Rd4 a5 22.Rad1 Rac8 23.Rd7 Rf7 24.Rd8+ Rxd8 25.Rxd8+ Kg7 26.Nd6 Bxd6 27.Rxd6 Rc7 is equal (Ushenina-N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ekaterininburg, 2007).
• 17...Bg4 18.Rd3 Bf5 19.Rf3 Bg6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.h4 Bd4 22.Rd1 Be5 23.g4 h5 24.g5 Rad8 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 Black's Bishops are more useful than White's Bishop and Knight (Khenkin-Aronian, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2003).

7...cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Bg5

• If 10.Re1 0-0 11.a3 then:
• If 11...b5 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bb7 15.Bf4 Bf6 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.b4 Ba8 18.h3 Nd4 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 then:
• 20.Bc7 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qd4 22.Red1 Qb2 23.Qd3 Qa2 24.Rd2 Qe6 gives White the more active game (Pentala-Ganguly, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).
• 20.Nxd4 Qxd4 21.Qxd4 Bxd4 22.Be5 Bxe5 23.Rxe5 Rfc8 24.Rec5 Rxc5 25.Rxc5 gives White the active Rook (Eljanov-Sadvakasov, Op, Kharkov, 2003).
• 11...Na5 12.Bc2 b5 13.d5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Qd3 g6 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Qc3 f6 18.Nd4 Nc4 19.Nc6 Qd6 20.Nxe7+ Rxe7 21.Rxe7 Qxe7 22.Re1 Be6 23.Bf5 Ne5 24.Rxe5 fxe5 25.Qxe5 gxf5 26.Qg3+ Kh8 27.Qe5+ Kg8 28.Qg3+ Kh8 29.Qe5+ Kg8 draw (Galojan-Ushenina, Euro ChTW, Gothenburg, 2005).

10...0-0 11.Qd2

• 11.Re1 b5 12.Qd2 Na5 13.Bc2 Bb7 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Rad1 Nd7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 is equal (Tregubov-Vorobiov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

11...Na5 12.Bc2 b5 13.Qf4

• 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.d5 exd5 15.Qd3 g6 16.Rfe1 b4 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Rxe7 Bd5 21.b3 Rac8 22.Ne1 Nc6 23.Re2 Be6 24.Red2 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 a5 is equal (Janssen-J. Ivanov, Op, Amsterdam, 2005).

13...Ra7!?

• This move is good for equality.
• 13...Bb7 14.Rad1 g6 15.Bh6 Nh5 16.Qg4 f5 17.Qh3 Rc8 18.d5 b4 19.dxe6 Bd6 20.Rfe1 Re8 21.Ba4 Re7 22.Bd7 gives White an extra pawn and multiple threats (Tkachiev-Lesiege, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).

14.Rad1

• The game is equal.
• 14.Ne5 Rc7 15.Qg3 Nc4 16.Bh6 Ne8 is equal.

14...Bb7 15.d5 Bxd5

• 15...exd5 16.Qe3 Ra8 17.Rfe1 Re8 18.Qd3 remains equal.

16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qh4

• If 17.Rfe1 then:
• 17...Nc6 18.Re2 Rd7 19.Bf5 Rd6 20.Qh4 g6 21.Rde1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 17...h6? then White wins after 18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.Qxh6 Qd6 20.Rxe7 Qxe7 21.Bh7+.

17...h5

• If 17...h6? 18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.Qxh6 Rc7 20.Nd4 Rxc2 then:
• After 21.Rd3! Ne4 22.Rh3 Bh4 23.Rxh4 Black must give up his Queen or submit to mate..
• 21.Nxc2? Nc4 22.b3 Ne5 23.Ne3 Re8 is equal.

18.Rfe1!

• 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Qxh5 g6 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.Rxd5 Bxb2 restores the balance.

18...Nc6 19.g4 Qd6

• 19...Nb4?! 20.Bb1 Rc7 21.gxh5 Rc4 22.Rd4 Re8 23.h6 gives White an advantage in space.

20.gxh5

• If 20.Bxf6?! Qxf6 21.Qxh5 g6 22.Qxd5 Nb4 then:
• 23.Qd4 Qxf3 24.Qxa7 Qxg4+ 25.Kh1 Nxc2 26.Qxe7 Nxe1 27.Qxe1 gives Black the more active game.
• 23.Qe4? Nxc2 24.Qxc2 Qxf3 leaves Black a piece to the good.

20...Qb4

• If 20...Nh7 21.Bf4 then:
• 21...Qb4 22.Qg3 Nf6 23.Be3 Rb7 24.h6 gives White the advantage in space and a strong initiative.
• 21...Qf6 22.Qg4 Rd8 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Rc1 gives White a huge advantage in space.

21.h6 Qxh4 22.Nxh4

• 22.Bxh4 Rc7 23.Bg3 Rcc8 24.Bf5 Rce8 25.Bh4 gxh6 26.Rc1 gives White enough activity that he will soon make up the material deficit.

22...Ne4?

• Black drops a pawn; against a great technician like Kramnik, a small error like this may be fatal.
• 22...gxh6 23.Bxh6 Rc8 24.Nf5 Bf8 25.Bg5 Nh7 26.Bh4 gives White the advantage in space.

23.hxg7 Rc8 24.Bxe7

• If 24.Be3? then:
• 24...Bxh4 25.Bxa7 Nxa7 26.Bxe4 dxe4 27.Rxe4 Bf6 28.b4 Kxg7 is equal.
• 24...Rac7 25.Nf5 Bb4 26.Re2 Ne7 27.Nxe7+ Rxe7 28.Rxd5 gives White two extra pawns.

24...Nxe7
BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ +t+ +l+%
$T + MoP %
$o+ + + +%
$+o+o+ + %
$ + +m+ N%
$+ + + + %
$pPb+ P P%
$+ +rR K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 24...Nc6e7:B

25.Bxe4!

• The text is better than 25.Bb3 Nf6 26.Re5 Kxg7 when:
• 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Nf5+ Kf8 29.Nxe7 Kxe7 30.Bxd5 Rc2 is equal.
• 27.Rde1!? Kf8 28.Nf5 Nc6 29.R5e2 d4 is equal.

25...dxe4 26.Rxe4 Kxg7

• White emerges from the pyrotechnics with an extra pawn.
• Kramnik, according to style, nurses this advantage home to victory.

27.Rd6

• 27.Rd2 does more to shut down Black's counterplay: 27...Rc6 28.Nf3 Rac7 29.Ne5 Re6 30.Rg4+ Ng6 31.Nf3 White remains a pawn to the good.
• 28...Nf5 29.Rf4 Nh6 30.Rfd4 Rac7 31.h4 Nf5 32.Rd5 gives White a more active game.

27...Rc5

• 27...Rc2 is clearly a better move, but White's initiative is strong and after 28.Rg4+ Kh7 29.Rf6 Ng8 30.Rf5 Nh6 31.Rh5 Black is still in serious trouble.

28.Rg4+ Kh7 29.Nf3 Ng6

• Little better is 29...Rc2 30.Ng5+ Kg7 31.Ne6+.

30.Ng5+ Kg7

• After 30...Kh8 31.Nxf7+ Rxf7 32.Rdxg6 Kh7 33.R6g5 Rxg5 34.Rxg5 White retains his extra pawn for the Rook ending.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$T + +oL %
$o+ R +m+%
$+oT + N %
$ + + +r+%
$+ + + + %
$pP + P P%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 30...Kh7g7

31.Nxf7!!

• The sham sacrifice of the Knight puts the game away.
• If 31.Ne6+ fxe6 32.Rxe6 Rc2 33.Rgxg6+ then:
• If 33...Kh7 34.Rh6+ Kg7 35.Reg6+ Kf7 then:
• 36.Rc6 Rxc6 37.Rxc6 gives White two extra pawns.
• 36.Rxa6 Rxa6 37.Rxa6 Rxb2 38.h4 leaves White two pawns up and mobile.
• 33...Kf8 34.Rxa6 Rg7 35.Rxg7 Kxg7 36.b4 liaves White three pawns to the good,

31...Rxf7 32.Rdxg6+ Kh7

• After 32...Kf8 33.Rxa6 Rff5 34.Ra8+ Kf7 35.Ra7+ Kf6 36.Rg8 gives White three extra pawns.

33.R6g5 Rxg5

• If 33...Rc1+ 34.Kg2 Kh6 35.f3 Rf6 36.Kg3 then:
• If 36...Rg1+ then White wins after 37.Kh4 Rxg4+ 38.Kxg4 Rc6 39.Rg8 Rc2 40.Ra8.
• White remains two pawn up after 36...Rf1 37.Kh4 Kh7 38.Rh5+ Rh6 39.Rxh6+ Kxh6 40.Kg3.

34.Rxg5 Rc7 35.a3 b4

• If 35...Rc2 then White wins after 36.b4 Ra2 37.Rg3 Kh6 38.Kg2 Kh5 39.Rd3.

36.axb4 Rc1+ 37.Kg2 Rb1 38.Ra5 Rxb2 39.Ra4 1-0

• White cannot possibly stop all of White's pawns.
• Anand-ji resigns.

[nickgutierrez]

9. So, we have a World Championship match this month.

We also have a semifinal match, in November/December.

I'm confused.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. If you're confused, blame Kirsan

FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is the George W. Bush of chess. The old world championship cycle wasn't broken until he fixed it.

First, Kirsan wanted a new way to choose a world champion. He instituted the knock out tournament as the new way. The world champion from the previous cycle would have no privileges other than to be the first seed in the new cycle. The format did not guarantee that the best -- or even one of the best -- players would win. Vishy Anand won one of these tournaments, but beyond that the only half-way credible world champion to emerge from the knock out event was Ruslan Ponomariov. Otherwise, it made champions of Alexander Khailifman and Rustam Kasimdzhanov. They're both good players, but it's still hard to say either name in the same breath as Lasker or Alekhine.

Kirsan then went to an elite tournament format in which Veselin Topalov became the champion. The only problem was that Vladimir Kramnik still claimed the title from having defeated Kasparov in a match in 2000, the way champions used to win the title. By the way, the world chess championship, first recognized in 1883 when Steinitz defeated Zukertort in what was billed as a match for the world title, is order than any world championship in boxing. The boxing championship format, the romantic golden bough event where a king rules until a challenger overthrows him in one-on-one combat in the sacred Dianah's Wood, is actually modeled on the chess championship. Of course, chess is not a blood sport, so the defeated world champion would not be killed as was the loser of the combat in Dianah's Wood.

Kramnik, recognized as the "classical" champion since his title was descended from Steinitz, challenged the FIDE champion, Topalov, and defeated him in what was billed as the "reunification" match of 2006. For some reason not really made clear, the loser of the match (Topalov) was prohibited from competing in the next cycle, which would be a tournament in Mexico City. It was further decreeed by Kirsan that if Kramnik, the reigning champion, did not win the tournament, he would play the winner the following year. Anand won the tournament and the world title and now he will play Kramnik, who has a chance to win back the title.

Meanwhile, Kirsan was under heavy criticism for excluding the loser from the next cycle. So he made a further decree that the winner of the 2007 World Cup would play a match against Topalov. The winner of the 2007 World Cup is Russo-American grandmaster Gata Kamsky, so that event should take place in Lvov in December, although there are some rumblings about that now. Assuming it does take place, the winner of that match will play the winner of the match that begins Tuesday for the world championship some time next year.

It must be nice to be a tyrannical autocrat like Kirsan. One is permitted to make it all up as he goes along, no matter how fair or unfair it is to others.

[joeybee12]

11. Enlighten me...what was the name of the American guy who won

back in the 1970's and is in Iceland now hiding from the law???? It's a weird situation.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Bobby Fischer

He died in January age 64 (one year for each square on the board).

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Breaking (Monday): Timofeev defeats Svidler in 19 moves; moves to first place in Moscow

Artyom Timofeev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Rising star Artyom Timofeev moved into first place in the "Superfinal" of the Russian National Championship in Moscow this afternoon by defeating frontrunner and four-time champion Peter Svidler in just 19 moves.

Timofeev may be joined in first place by former champion Evgeny Alekseev, who appears to have a slightly better position against GM Konstantin Maslak after 54 moves. (Further update: Alekseev defeated Maslak in 67 moves and joins Timofeev in first place with 6 points each in nine rounds.)

Here is the Timofeev-Svidler game with light notes.

Artyom Timofeev - Peter Svidler
Russian National Championship, Round 9
Moscow, 13 October 2008

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

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Qb3 Bxc3 14.Rxc3 Rc7?

• 14...h6 15.Bh4 Bd5 16.Bxd5 Rxc3 17.bxc3 exd5 18.Qa3 Qc8 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Qxa7 Qxc3 21.Qxb6 Ra8 22.Qb3 Qxb3 23.axb3 Ra2 is equal and, after sever more moves, agreed drawn (Danielian-Maric, Euro ChTW, Saint Vincent, 2005).

15.Ne5 Kh8

• 15...Qa8 16.Bxe6 Rxc3 17.Bxf7+ Kh8 18.bxc3 Bxg2 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nxd7 gives White a much more active game (Alsina-Vilar, Op, Lisbon, 2001).

16.Rh3!?

• 16.Qa3 Kg8 17.Rec1 Qa8 18.Qe7 is equal (Fritz) more active for White (JR).

16...Qa8 17.Nxd7 Rxd7

• If 17...Nxd7 18.Qd3 g6 19.Bf4 Bxg2 then White wins after 20.Rg3 Be4 21.Qc3 when:
• 21...Rxc4 22.Qxc4 wins the exhange.
• If 21...Rcc8 then 22.d5+ e5 23.Rxe4 b5 24.Bxe5+ Nxe5 25.Qxe5+ wins a piece.

18.Bxf6 gxf6
BLACK: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
$q+ + T L%
$Ov+t+o+o%
$ O +oO +%
$+ + + + %
$ +bP + +%
$+q+ + +r%
$pP + PpP%
$+ + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 18...gf6:p

19.Rxh7+!! 1-0

• After 19...Kxh7 20.Qh3+ Kg7 21.Qg4+ Kh7 22.Re3 Black must either surrender the Queen and Bishop or submit to mate.
• Peter Veniaminovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Update 2 (Monday): Kramnik and Anand hold press conference in Bonn

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand and challenger Vladimir Kramnik, who held the world title form 2000 to 2007, held a press conference today in Bonn, the Cold War capital of West Germany, ahead of their title match which begins tomorrow.



Kramnik and Anand in Bonn
Photo: ChessBase.com

Details at ChessBase.com.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Update (Tuesday): Kramnik-Anand draw Gm 1; Alekseev takes sole lead in Moscow

World Championship Match Begins in Bonn: First Game Drawn




The world championship match between reigning champion Vishy Anand and former champion Vladimir Kramnik began today in Bonn, Germany.

The first game ended in an uneventful draw in 32 moves. Kramnik, playing White, opening with the Queen's pawn and Anand defended with Slav Queen's Gambit. Kramnink chose to veer into the drawish exchange variation. At the end of today's game, each player had three pawns and a Bishop of the opposite color as the other. An endgame featuring pawns and opposite colored Bishops are usually drawn.

The players will play round 2 tomorrow with Anand playing White.


Alekseev Takes Sole Lead in Russian Championship with One Round Remaining



Evgeny Alekseev
Photo: ChessBase.com

Grandmaster Evgeny Alekseev defeated Konstantin Sakaev in 59 moves today to take sole possession of first place in the "Superfinal" of the Russian National Championship in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Artyom Timofeev, who entered today's round tied with Alekseev for first place, dropped his game to Nikita Vitiugov in 64 moves.

With one round to play, Alekseev is assured of at least a share of first place. With 7 points in ten rounds, he leads Timofeev, Dmitry Jakovenko and four-time champion Peter Svidler, who sat at the top of the table for most of the tournament, by 1 point each.

Evgeny Vladomirovich need only avoid loss tomorrow against Svidler to win his second Russian Championship. He won the 2006 version of the title after defeating Jakovenko in a tiebreak round.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Correction on Russian Championship

Nikita Vitiugov is in second place with 6½ points, a half point behind Alekseev. It is possible for for Vitiugov to leapfrog over Aleskeev tomorrow (if Vitiugov wins and Alekseev loses) or to catch Alekseev in a tie for first place (if Alexseev draws and Vitiugov wins or Alekseev loses and Vitiugov draws).

Alekseev will play White against Peter Svidler tomorrow while Vitiugov plays Black against Dmitry Jakovenko.

Stay tuned tomorrow at the official website of the Russian Chess Federation at 3 pm Moscow time (4 am PDT).