The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (November 9): Nakamura takes Cap d'Agde

[Jack Rabbit]

Nakamura wins in Cap d'Agde

American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura is the winner of the 2008 rapid tournament in the French Mediterranean resort of Cap d'Agde.

Mr. Nakamura defeated Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine to take the title in a two-game match played Saturday, November 1, by a score of 1½-½.

Mr. Nakamura, who turns 21 next month, was born near Osaka, Japan and immigrated to the United States with his parents when he was two years old.


Dreev takes Barcelona

Russian grandmaster Alexey Dreev, at 39 a member of the passing generation of Russian masters, won the Magistral Casino de Barcelona Friday with 7 points in nine rounds.

Kiril Georgiev of Bulgaria, 43, finished second with 6½ points and third prize was won by Georgia's Baadur Jobava.

Jobava started the event quickly by winning in each of the first three rounds, but was defeated by Dreev in round 4 and Georgiev in Round 5. Dreev and Georgiev vied for the lead the rest of the way, with Dreev opening up a small advantage in the eighth round. Jobava, meanwhile, defeated and overtook American GM Boris Gulko, the only man to have held both the Soviet and US national championships, in the final round.


Yank Ehlvest first in Pan Am Championship

American grandmaster Jaan Ehlvest won the 2008 Pan American Continental Championship Friday in Boca Raton, Florida, with 7 point out of a possible nine.

Grandmasters Alex Ivanov and Josh Friedel, both of the US, finished tied for second and third with 6½ points each.

Mr. Ehlvest, 46, was born in Soviet Estonia. He has lived in America since 2006.


Topalov-Kamsky changes venue to Bulgaria, or so it appears



Although FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov personally guaranteed in June a candidates' match between former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and current World Cup title holder Gata Kamsky of the United States to be held in November 26-December 14 in Lvov, Ukraine, the deal has fallen through and FIDE has reopened bidding in the eleventh hour.

FIDE reopened the bidding Monday after Alexander Chernenko, Kamsky's manager, failed to secure a bank guarantee of $750,000 (US) as part of his commitment to the match in Lvov.

Prior to naming Lvov as the site for the match, the Bulgarian Chess Federation had been awarded the right to organize the match, probably in Sofia, but this was met with an objection from the Kamsky camp, who insisted on a neutral site.

Bulgaria has been re-awarded the match. The Bulgarian Federation has until November 14 to respond to FIDE in writing.

The winner of the match will challenge world champion Vishy Anand to a title match in 2009.


Chess Olympics Begin Thursday in Dresden



The opening ceremonies of the 38th Chess Olympics will be held Wednesday and the opening round begins Thursday in the historic German city of Dresden.

The 11-round event runs through Tuesday, November 25.


Calendar

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov Bulgaria(?) 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand or Kramnik in 2009.

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.

Gibraltar Chess Festival 27 January-5 February.

[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. Nakamura - Vachier Lagrave, Cap d'Agde, Quarter Finals

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hikaru Nakamura - Maxime Vachier Lagrave
CCAS Rapid Trophy, Quarter-Final Round
Cap d'Agde, 30 October 2008

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Benko Gambit)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.f3 e6 6.e4 exd5

• 6...Bb7 7.Nc3 exd5 8.e5 Qe7 9.Qe2 Ng8 transposes into the text.

7.e5 Qe7 8.Qe2 Ng8 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nh3 c4 11.Nf4

• 11.Be3 axb5 12.0-0-0 Qb4 13.Nf4 Ne7 14.Qf2 Qa5 15.Bb6 Qa6 16.Rxd5 Bc6 17.Rxb5 Bxb5 18.Ne4 (threatening mate on d6) 18...Nc8 19.Nd5 Nxb6 20.Nc7+ Kd8 21.Nxa6 Rxa6 22.Nc3 Bc6 23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.Qh4+ Be7 25.Qxc4 is equal (Bitalzadeh-Vachier Lagrave, Euro Union Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

11...Qc5 12.Nfxd5!?

• This Knight sacrifice makes its historic debut here.
• 12.a4 d4 13.bxa6 Nxa6 14.Ne4 Qb4+ 15.Kf2 d3 16.Qe3 Bc5 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.Nh5 Ne7 19.Nxg7+ Kd8 20.Qe1 Qb6 21.Be3 Rg8 22.Nh5 Qxb2+ 23.Kg1 Qxe5 gives Black the active game and an extra pawn (Adianto-J. Polgar, TMatch, Jakarta, 1996).

12...Bxd5 13.Be3 Qb4 14.a3 Qa5 15.Bd2 Be6!

• The preceding moves were forced.
• 15...Bb7?! 16.Nd5! Qd8 17.Qxc4 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 gives White the advantage in space.

16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Qxc4 Ra7 18.Rc1 axb5

• 18...Bxd5 19.Qxd5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Ne7 21.Qe4 Nbc6 22.a4 gives White the advantage in space in compensation for a material deficit.

19.Nc7+ Rxc7 20.Qxc7 Nc6?!

• 20...b4 21.axb4 Nc6 22.Qxd8+ Kxd8 23.b5 Nxe5 24.Ba5+ gives White more freedom.

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 20...Nb8c6

21.Qxd8+!

• White intends to bring his Bishops behind Black's position by maneuvering them to the queenside.
• The text is stronger than 21.Qb7 b4 22.axb4 Nge7 23.f4 f6 24.exf6 gxf6 25.Be2, which gives White a material advantage.

21...Kxd8 22.Bxb5 Nxe5 23.Ba5+

• See previous note.

23...Ke7 24.Rc8 f5

• 24...Nf6 25.Bd8+ Kd6 26.Bc7+ Kd5 27.Ke2 d6 28.Rd1+ gives White more freedom and activity.

25.Bb4+ d6 26.Rxf8!

• The exchange sacrifce soon nets a material advantage for White.

26...Kxf8 27.Bxd6+ Kf7 28.Bxe5

• White is two connected passed pawns to the good.

28...Nf6 29.0-0 Rc8 30.a4 Nd5 31.Ra1!

• It will be difficult to stop the a-pawn.

31...Rc2 32.Bd3 Rd2 33.Bc4 Rc2

• If 33...Ne3 then after 34.Bf1 Bc4 35.Bxc4+ Nxc4 36.Bc3 White will have at least one extra pawn.

34.b3

• 34.Bxd5 Bxd5 35.a5 g5 36.a6 Ke6 37.Bh8 g4 38.a7 is clearly winning for White.

34...Ne3 35.Bxe6+ Kxe6 36.Bd4 f4?

• If 36...Nxg2 37.b4 Nf4 38.Rd1 g5 39.a5 Ne2+ 40.Kh1 Nxd4 41.Rxd4 Ke5 42.Rd7 leaves White a little better with an extra pawn, but Black has counterplay
• 38...h5?! 39.a5 g5 40.a6 Ne2+ 41.Kh1 Nxd4 42.Rxd4 gives White an extra move over the main variation.

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 36...f5f4

37.Bxe3!!

• The sacrifice is stronger than 37.g3 Nf5 38.Re1+ Kd5 39.Bf2 Rb2 40.gxf4.

37...fxe3 38.a5

• The passed pawn has a lust to expand.

38...Kd5

• If 38...Rb2 then 39.a6 e2 40.Kf2 wins.

39.a6 Rc8 40.a7 Ra8 41.Kf1 1-0

• 41...Kc5 42.Ra4 Kb6 43.Ke2 Rxa7 44.Rxa7 Kxa7 45.Kxe3 gives White pawn majorities on both wings.
• M. Vachier Lagrave resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Carlsen - Radjabov, Cap d'Agde, Preliminary Rounds

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com



CCAS Rapid Trophy, Round 6
Cap d'Agde, 28 October 2008

Epine Dorsal: Rat Defense (Lion Variation)

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 c6 8.a4 a5

• If 8...b6 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nxd5 then:
• 10...Bb7 11.b3 Rc8 12.Re2 Nc5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Qd7 15.Ba3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Ne6 18.Qb5 Nf4 19.Red2 Qg4 20.Qf1 d5 21.Kh1 d4 gives Black a strong initiative (Naiditsch-Eljanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 10...Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.Qd3 Nc5 13.Qe3 Be6 14.Rd1 Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Qc7 16.b3 Nd7 17.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Lahno-Collas, OlW, Calvia, 2004).

9.Ba2

• If 9.h3 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 then:
• 11...Qb6 12.b3 Re8 13.Qf3 Ncd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 is equal (Hracek-Piket, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• 11...Be6 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.e5 d5 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Qg4 h5 16.Qg3 dxc4 17.Rad1 Qe8 18.Bd6 Be7 19.Re5 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 gives White more freedom (Godena-Mitkov, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

9...exd4

• 9...h6 10.h3 Re8 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Nh4 Nf8 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Nf5 Bxa2 15.Rxa2 Ng6 16.Raa1 Nh7 17.Qg3 Bg5 18.Bxg5 Nxg5 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Haugstad-Kandic, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).

10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Qf3!?

• The game is equal.
• 11.h3 Qb6 12.Nb3 Nxb3 13.Bxb3 Be6 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Bxe6 fxe6 is equal (Ye Jiangchuan-Hamdouchi, World Cup Rapid, Cannes, 2001).
• 11.Bf4 Ne8 12.Qd2 Be6 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Rad1 Kh8 15.Qe3 Qb6 16.Re2 Qxb2 17.Rb1 Qa3 gives Black an extra pawn (Lallemand-Millet, French ChW, Pau, 2008).

11...Qb6

• 11...Re8 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.Qxf5 Qb6 14.Re3 remains equal.

12.Bg5

• 12.Nf5 Bxf5 13.Qxf5 Qb4 14.Qf4 Rad8 remains equal.

12...Be6

• 12...Bg4 13.Qg3 Rae8 14.Nb3 Nxb3 15.Bxb3 Be6 16.e5 gives White slightly more activity.

13.Nxe6

• After 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 Rfe8 15.Re2 d5 16.Rae1 White is more active.

13...Nxe6 14.Qe3

• 14.Bc1 Qb4 15.Rb1 Nc5 16.Bd2 Nxa4 17.Re2 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 remains equal.

14...Qxe3

• If 14...Nc5 15.Rab1 Qb4 16.Red1 then:
• 16...Ng4! 17.Qf4 Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Nxf2 19.Kxf2 Qxc3 20.bxc3 Nxe4+ gives Black an extra pawn.


• 16...Rae8 17.Bf4 Ng4 18.Qg3 Ne5 19.Qe3 Bf6 remains equal.

15.Bxe3 Ng4 16.Bd2

• 16.Rad1 Nxe3 17.Rxe3 Rad8 18.Nd5 Bg5 19.Rg3 h6 remains equal.

16...Bh4 17.g3

• If 17.Rf1 Bf6 18.h3 Ne5 19.Rad1 then:
• 19...Ng6 20.Be3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Rfd8 22.Bb6 Rd7 remains equal.
• 19...Nd7 20.Be3 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Nf6 22.f3 gives White the initiative.

17...Bf6 18.Kg2

• 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.f4 Bd4+ 20.Kg2 remains equal.

18...Nc5

• The game is equal.
• 18...Nd4 19.h3 Ne5 20.Rac1 Nef3 21.Red1 Nxd2 22.Rxd2 gives White a slight tactical edge.

19.Bc4 Rfe8 20.f3 Ne5 21.Be2

• 21.Ba2 Ned7 22.Red1 Nb6 23.h3 Ra6 24.Be1 Be5 remains equal.

21...Ned7 22.b3 Ne6

• 22...Re7 23.Rad1 Rae8 24.Bf1 b6 25.Ne2 Be5 remains equal.

23.Rac1 Nd4 24.Bf1 Ne5 25.Re3 Ne6

• 25...b6 26.Ne2 Ne6 27.Rd1 Rad8 28.Bc3 remains equal.

26.Ne2 d5 27.exd5

• The game is equal.
• 27.Nf4?! Bg5 28.Rce1 Nxf4+ 29.gxf4 Bxf4 gives Black an extra pawn.

27...cxd5 28.Bc3 Nd7 29.Rd1

• 29.Bxf6 Nxf6 30.c3 Rab8 31.Nd4 Nxd4 32.Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.cxd4 remains equal.

29...Bxc3

• If 29...Rac8 30.Kf2 Bxc3 then:
• 31.Rxc3 Rxc3 32.Nxc3 Rc8 33.Rxd5 Rxc3 34.Rxd7 Rxc2+ 35.Ke3 remains equal.
• 31.Nxc3?! d4 32.Rxe6 Rxe6 33.Bc4 Rh6 leaves Black up by an exchange.

30.Rxc3 Nf6

• 30...Nb6 31.Kf2 Kf8 32.Bg2 Rac8 33.Rxc8 Rxc8 34.c3 gives White more freedom.

31.Kf2 Rac8 32.Rd2

• If 32.Rxc8 Rxc8 33.Rd2 Kf8 then:
• 34.Bg2 Ke7 35.h4 Kd6 36.f4 Rd8 remains equal.
• 34.Bh3 Re8 35.Nd4 Nxd4 36.Rxd4 remains equal.

32...Kf8 33.Bh3

• 33.Rxc8 Rxc8 34.h4 Ke7 35.Bh3 Kd6 is equal.

33...Rxc3

• 33...Rc6 34.Rxc6 bxc6 35.Bxe6 fxe6 36.Nd4 c5 37.Nc6 gives White a slight initiative.

34.Nxc3 Ng5 35.Bg2 Rc8 36.Nb5

• If 36.Nxd5 Nxd5 37.Rxd5 Rxc2+ then:
• 38.Kf1 Rc1+ 39.Ke2 Ne6 40.Kd2 Rb1 41.Kc2 Re1 42.Bh3 is equal.
• 38.Ke3 Rxg2 39.Rxg5 Rxh2 40.Rxa5 Rh6 41.Rb5 gives White the more active game.

36...Rc5 37.Re2

• White takes aim at e6.
• 37.c3 Ne6 38.Ke3 Rc6 39.Kd3 h6 40.Kc2 g5 41.Nd4 gives White more activity.

37...Ne6 38.Bh3

• White has achieved his objective, but the position is equal.

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 38.Bg2h3

38...Ng5 39.Bf5 g6 40.h4

• 40.Bd3 Ne6 41.h4 Rc6 42.c3 Nc7 43.Re3 gives White more activity,

40...Nxf3

• If 40...gxf5 41.hxg5 Nh5 42.f4 then:
• 42...f6 43.Nd4 Rc3 44.Nxf5 fxg5 45.fxg5 gives White more activity, but Black has opportunities for counterplay.
• If 42...b6 43.Kf3 Ng7 44.Rh2 Ne6 then:
• 45.Ke3 Kg7 46.Kd3 gives White more freedom.
• 45.Rxh7 Rxc2 46.Nd6 Nd4+ 47.Ke3 Nxb3 48.Rxf7+ wins a pawn for White.
• If 40...Ne8 41.hxg5 gxf5 42.Nd4 Ng7 43.Re5 then:
• 43...b6 44.Ke3 Nh5 45.Nxf5 Rc3+ 46.Kd4 Rxf3 47.Rxd5 Ng7 48.Rd8+ gives White a fierce initiative.
• 43...Kg8 44.Re7 b6 45.Ke3 Ne6 46.Nxf5 Rc3+ 47.Kd2 Rxf3 48.Re8+ gives White the active game.

41.Kxf3 gxf5 42.Nd4 Kg7?!

• 42...b6 43.Nxf5 Rc3+ 44.Kf4 Nh5+ 45.Kg4 Ng7 46.Nd4 gives White a little more freedom.

43.Nxf5+ Kg6 44.Ne7+ Kg7 45.g4 h6 46.Kf4 h5?

• If 46...Kh7 47.Rd2 d4 48.Nf5 Nd5+ 49.Kf3 Rc3+ 50.Ke4 d3 51.cxd3 Nf6+ 52.Kf4 Rxb3 53.d4 White's d-pawn is the biggest man on the board.
• 50...Nf6+?! 51.Kxd4 Rf3 52.Nd6 Nxg4 53.Nxb7 Rf5 54.c4 gives White an xtra pawn.

47...b6 48.g5 Ne4 49.Rxd5 Rxc2 50.Nf5 Nc3 51.Re5 gives White more activity, but Black has opportunities for counterplay.

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 46...h6h5

47.gxh5

• Even better is 47.g5! winning a pawn after 47...Ng4 48.Rd2 d4 49.Nf5+ Kg6 50.Nxd4.

47...Nxh5+ 48.Ke5 b6

• If 48...Kf8 49.Kd4 b6 50.Nf5 Nf4 51.Rf2 then:
• 51...Nh3 52.Rf3 Ng1 53.Rf1 Ne2+ 54.Kd3 gives White more activity.
• If 51...Ne6+ 52.Ke5 then:
• 52...d4+ 53.Ke4 f6 54.Nxd4 Kf7 55.Nxe6 Kxe6 56.Re2 gives White an extra pawn.
• 52...Nd8 53.Nd4 Nc6+ 54.Nxc6 Rxc6 55.Kxd5 leaves White with an extra pawn.
• 48...Ng3 49.Rg2 Kf8 50.Nxd5 Nf5 51.Kxf5 Rxd5+ 52.Kf6 gives White an extra pawn.

49.Rd2

• If 49.Rf2 then:
• 49...d4+ 50.Kxd4 Nf6 51.c3 Rh5 52.Rf4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 49...f6+ 50.Kd4 Kf7 51.Nxd5 Rc6 52.c4 gives White an extra pawn.

49...f6+

• 49...d4+ 50.Kxd4 Ng3 51.Rg2 Kf8 52.Ng6+ fxg6 53.Rxg3 gives White an extra pawn.

50.Kd6 d4

• 50...Kh6 51.Nxd5 Ng3 52.Ke6 f5 53.Rd3 Ne2 54.Kxf5 White is two pawns to the good.

51.Nd5 d3

• 51...Kf7 52.Nxb6 Rc3 53.Nc4 Ng3 54.Kd5 Nf5 55.Nxa5 gives White two connected passed pawns.

52.c4

• Also good is 52.cxd3 Rc1 53.d4 Rh1 54.Nxb6 Rxh4 55.Nc4 winning another pawn.

52...Rc8 53.Rxd3 f5 54.Ke5 f4 55.Nxf4 Re8+

• 55...Nxf4 56.Kxf4 Rc6 57.Rd7+ Kg6 58.Rd5 gives White pawn majorities on both wings.

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 55...Rc8e8+

56.Ne6+!!

• White is well aware of the sacrifice of the Knight, and well aware that it wins.
• 56.Kf5 Rf8+ 57.Kg4 Nxf4 58.Rd7+ Kf6 59.Rd6+ White retains the initiative in spite of Black's material advantage.

56...Rxe6+ 57.Kxe6 Nf4+

• Recovering the Rook is clearly the best.

58.Kd6 Nxd3 59.Kc6 Nc5

• If 59...Nc1 then 60.Kxb6 Nxb3 61.c5 wins.

60.Kxb6 Nxb3 61.c5 1-0

• After 61...Nd2 62.c6 Ne4 63.c7 Nd6 64.Kxa5 one of White's pawns will queen.
• Grandmaster Radjabov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Jobava - Dreev, Barcelona, Round 4

Alexey Dreev
Photo: ChessBase.com


Baadur Jobava - Alexey Dreev
Magistral Casino, Round 4
Barcelona, 2 November 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Four Knights' Opening (Rauzer Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Be7

• If 8...Bd7 then:
• If 9.f3 Be7 then:
• If 10.g4 then:
• 10...h6 11.Be3 b5 12.h4 Rc8 13.Bd3 Ne5 is equal (Mongontuul-Hou Yifan, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 10...h5 11.gxh5 Nxh5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Rg1 0-0-0 14.Nb3 Kc7 15.Be2 Bc8 16.f4 g6 17.Rg5 Kb8 18.Bxh5 Rxh5 19.Rxh5 gxh5 20.Rg1 Qf6 21.Rg5 gives White more activity (Stephan-Fedorowicz, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).
• If 10.h4 h6 11.Be3 h5 12.Bg5 Ne5 13.Kb1 b5 14.Qe1 Qc7 15.Nce2 Rb8 16.Ng3 a5 17.f4 Neg4 18.Be2 a4 19.c3 b4 20.cxb4 Qb6 21.a3 Ne3 22.Rd3 Nxg2 23.Qc1 gives White the advantage in space (Krivic-Verleur, Cyberspace, 2003).
• 13...Qc7 14.Bd3 b5 15.Rhe1 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.Nf4 Qb6 18.Bf1 is equal (Predojevic-Kolesar, Op, Pula, 2005).
• If 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Qe1 then:
• 13...Ra7 14.Bd3 h5 15.Qh4 Be7 16.f5 b4 17.Ne2 e5 18.Ng3 Qf2 19.Rhf1 Qc5 20.Nxh5 gives White an extra pawn (Tiviakov-Neelotpal, IT, Dhaka, 2003).
• If 13...Be7 14.Bd3 Qc5 15.f5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Ng3 a5 18.Qe2 Rc8 19.b3 0-0 20.Bc4 Kh8 is equal (Adams-Kozul, Euro Ch, Belgrade, 1999).
• If 15...h5 16.Rf1 Kd7 17.Rf3 Rag8 18.fxe6+ fxe6 19.Nd5 Rxg2 20.b4 gives White an extra pawn (Short-Torre, IZonal, Manila, 1990).

9.f4 Nxd4

• If 9...Bd7 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 then:
• If 11...gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 0-0-0 14.g3 Kb8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh3 Bc8 17.Qe1 Rhe8 18.Ne2 Bf8 19.Nf4 Bg7 20.Rf1 then:
• 20...Qc5 21.c3 f5 22.exf5 exf5 23.Qf2 b4 24.cxb4 Nxb4 25.a3 Nc6 26.Rc1 Qxf2 27.Rxf2 is equal (Kolev-Damljanovic, Op, Skopje, 2002).
• 20...Bh8 21.c3 Re7 22.Rf2 Na5 23.Nd4 Rde8 24.Bg4 Nc4 25.Bh5 gives White the advantage in space (Adams-Timman, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
• If 11...Bxf6 12.Qxd6 Be7 13.Qd2 b4 then:
• 14.Ne2 Ra7 15.Kb1 Qb6 16.e5 0-0 17.Nc1 a5 18.Bd3 a4 19.b3 Rc7 20.g4 Na7 21.f5 Bb5 22.f6 gxf6 23.Qh6 Bxd3 24.Rxd3 fxe5 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.Qxg5+ is equal (Chiburdanidze-Kozlovskaya, Soviet ChW, Tbilisi, 1974).
• 14.Na4 Ra7 15.Qe3 Qa5 16.b3 R7 17.Nd2 Na7 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.e5 Bxa4 20.bxa4 0-0 21.Bd3 Rfb8 22.Qe4 g6 23.h4 Rd8 24.h5 gives the overall advantage to White in spite of his pawn minus as he will break through on the kingside to great effect (Ziatdinov-Tseshkovsky, Hodzhaev Mem, Tashkent, 1987).

10.Qxd4 b5 11.Bxf6

• If 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Bf3 Rc8 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.f5 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bg4 Kf7 17.Bh5+ Kg7 18.e5 Rhd8 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.exd6 Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Bxd6 22.Qxe6 Be5 23.Rd1 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3 25.Qf5 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Rd8+ 27.Ke1 Qc3+ 28.Kf1 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Qd4 30.Be2 draw (Hoffman-Likavsky, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2008).
• 14...Qa5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Kb1 Rc4 17.Qe3 Qc7 18.Rhe1 Qc5 19.Qh6 b4 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 e5 gives White more activity, but Black is capable of making threats also (Motylev-Wojtaszek, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

11...gxf6 12.Be2 Rb8

• 12...Qc7 13.f5 Qc5 14.Qxc5 dxc5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh5+ Kf8 17.e5 f5 18.g4 Ra7 19.gxf5 exf5 20.Rhf1 Kg7 21.Rg1+ Kh6 22.Be2 draw (Domínguez-Vera, Cuban Ch, Las Tunas, 2001).

13.Bh5!?

• The novelty is not better than the previously played 13.Bf3.
• If 13.Bf3 Qb6 14.Qd2 then:
• If 14...Bb7 15.Kb1 then:
• 15...b4! 16.Ne2 a5 17.Rhf1 Rd8 18.f5 e5 gives Black a better Bishop and a small advantage in spave (Simeonidis-Gelashvili, Op, Corinth, 2004).
• If 15...Bc6!? 16.Rhe1! b4 17.Ne2 a5 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Bh5 then:
• 19...e5? 20.Nf5! Bxf5 21.exf5 Qc5 22.Bf3 gives White the more active game owing to his attack on Black's weak d-pawn (Predojevic-Rohit, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• 19...0-0 20.Re3 a4 21.f5 e5 22.Ne2 Kh8 23.Ng3 is equal.
• 14...Qc5! 15.Kb1 Bb7 16.g4 Rc8 is equal.

13...b4!

• 13...Qa5 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 b4 16.exf6 Qg5+ 17.Kb1 is equal.

14.Ne2 Qa5 15.f5 Qxa2

• Black has an extra pawn. although it is for the moment of little significance.

16.fxe6 Bxe6 17.Nf4?

• This move threatens 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Qd5 Kf8 20.Bf3 Qe5 21.Rhf1 with comfortable equality.
• If 17.Kd2 then:
• If 17...0-0 18.Ra1 Qc4 19.Qxc4 Bxc4 20.b3 Bb5 remains equal.
• 18.Nf4? transposes into the text.
• 17...Rg8 18.Nf4 Qa5 19.g3 Bc8 remains equal.

17...0-0 18.Kd2

• If 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 f5 then:
• 20.h4 b3 21.c4 Rfc8 22.Kd2 Qa5+ 23.Kd3 Qd8 gives Black more activity.

20.Kd2 Bg5+ 21.Kd3 Qa4 22.Ra1 Qb5+ 23.Qc4 Rfc8 transposes into the note to White's 21st move.

BLACK: Alexey Dreev
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WHITE: Baduur Jobava
Position after 18.Kc1d2

18...Qa5!

• Black wishes to preserve his King.
• 18...Rfc8? 19.Ra1! Qc4 20.Qxc4 Rxc4 21.Rhe1 Rbc8 22.Bd1 is equal.

19.Nd5 Bxd5

• After 19...Qd8 20.Ra1 f5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Bg4 Bg5+ the pawn counts for more.

20.exd5 f5 21.h4

• If 21.Ra1 Bg5+ then:
• 22.Kd3 Qb5+ 23.Qc4 Rfc8 24.Qxb5 Rxb5 25.Bf3 a5 Black still has an extra pawn and White's King is out in the open.
• 22.Ke2 Rfe8+ 23.Kf2 Qc7 24.Qd3 Re3 25.Qxf5 Re5 gives Black a fierce initiative for returning the pawn.

21...Qd8!

• The Queen retreats to support the Bishop maneuver that follows.
• 21...Rb5 22.Bf3 Qd8 23.Qf4 Bf6 24.Qxf5 Bxb2 25.Be4 is equal.

22.Qd3

• It does White no better to take advantage of the open a-file the backward pawn on it.
• If 22.Ra1 Bf6 23.Qf4 Qb6 then:
• 24.Be2 Rfe8 25.Bd3 Bxb2 26.Rxa6 Qc5 Black maintains an extra pawn.
• 24.Kc1 Rfe8 25.Qg3+ Bg7 26.Qd3 Qf2 leaves Black a pawn to the good with the active position.

If 22.Qf4 Bf6 then:

• 23.Ra1 Qc8 24.Qg3+ Kh8 25.Qb3 Rg8 26.Bf3 Rb6 Black threatens to win another pawn.
• 23.Qg3+ Bg7 24.Be2 f4 25.Qb3 Re8 26.Rde1 a5 gives Black the more active game.

22...Bf6!

• The play is on the queenside. Black goes after the unprotected b-pawn.
• 22...Bxh4 23.Qxf5 Qg5+ 24.Qxg5+ Bxg5+ 25.Kd3 Bf6 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn.

23.Kc1

• White is completely lost.
• For what it's worth, 23.Rb1 Bxh4 24.Kd1 Qg5 25.Bf3 Rfe8 26.Qd4 Bg3 is more stubborn.
• If 23.Qb3 Bxh4 24.Kc1 Qg5+ 25.Kb1 Rfe8 then:
• 26.Bf3 f4 27.Qd3 Rb5 28.g3 Re3 wins a piece.
• After 26.g4 fxg4 27.Bxg4 Re3 28.Qc4 b3 White is running out of moves.

After 23.b3 Bc3+ 24.Ke2 Re8+ 25.Kf1 Re5 26.Qxa6 Qe7 Black pounds at the center of White's camp.

23...Bg7 24.Qxf5 Qa5 25.Kd2 Rbe8 0-1

• 26.Qg4 Kh8 27.Rh3 b3+ 28.Kc1 Bh6+ 29.Kb1 Qa2#.
• If 26.g4 Bxb2 27.Qg5+ Kh8 28.Ra1 Qc5 29.Kd1 Qf2 30.Qf6+ Qxf6 31.c4 b3 32.Rh2 Qd4+ 33.Rd2 Qg1#.
• If 28.Rdf1 b3+ 29.Kd1 bxc2+ 30.Kxc2 Qa4+ 31.Kb1 Re2 32.Qf6+ Bxf6 33.Rxf6 Rb8+ 34.Kc1 Qc2#.
• 31.Kd2 Qd4+ 32.Kc2 Re2+ 33.Kb1 Qd3+ 34.Ka2 Qa3+ 35.Kb1 Qa1#.

Grandmaster Jobava resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Georgiev - Kogan, Barcelona, Round 3

Kiril Georgiev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Kiril Georgiev - Arthur Kogan
Magistral Casino. Round 3
Barcelona, 1 November 2008

Open Queen's Gambit: LaBourdinnais Opening (McDonnell Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 e5!?

• The line of the Open Queen's Gambit was more popular in the nineteenth century, when 1.d4 was rarely played. It almost disappeared after 1900, only to start making a comeback in the eighties.
• The usual line is 3...Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5.

4.Bxc4 exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Nf3 Bd6

• If 6...Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.0-0 then:
• 8...Nbd7 9.h3 Nb6 10.Bb3 c6 11.Re1 Nbd5 12.Bg5 Be6 13.Ne5 Re8 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Bxe7 Rxe7 16.Ne4 f6 17.Nd3 Nf8 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Ng3 gives White a tactical edge (I. Sokolov-Hübner, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1996).
• 8...Bg4 9.Be3 Nc6 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nxd4 12.Qxb7 Nf5 13.Rfd1 Qb8 14.Qxb8 Raxb8 15.Bxa7 Rb7 16.Bd3 Rxa7 17.Bxf5 gives White an extra pawn (Arencibia-Espinosa, Zonal T, Cali, 1990).

7.0-0 0-0 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.h3

• 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nxd4 13.Qxb7 Nf5 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Rae1 Ng3 16.fxg3 Qd4+ 17.Kh1 Qxc4 18.Qf3 f6 19.b3 Qf7 20.Ne4 Bb4 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Qg4+ Qg7 23.Qxb4 Qxg3 24.Rf3 gives White an extra pawn and more activity (Korchnoi-Stojanovic, Op, Banja Luka, 2007).

9...h6 10.Re1 Bf5 11.d5

• 11.a3 a6 12.Be3 Re8 13.Nh4 Bh7 14.Qf3 Qd7 15.g4 Rad8 16.Red1 Bf8 17.Ng2 Ne4 18.Bd3 Nd6 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Bf4 g6 21.Bxd6 cxd6 22.Rd3 Bg7 23.Rad1 Rf8 24.Ne3 f5 is equal (Short-Bareev, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).

11...Ne7 12.Nd4!?

• The novelty is good for an equal game. It has the virtue of discouraging Black from playing ...c6.
• 12.Be3 a6 13.Bd4 Ng6 14.a4 Re8 15.Qb3 b6 16.Rxe8+ Nxe8 17.Re1 Nf6 18.Kh1 Nh7 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Ng5 21.Re1 Nxf3 22.Qxf3 Qd7 23.b3 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 gives White a slightly more active game (Fritz-Morozevich, Match, Frankfurt, 2000).

12...Bh7

• For the time being, White will play to keep his isolated pawn at d5 while Black goes into a defensive posture to prevent White from making inroads on his position Before maneuvering againsts the pawn.
• 12...Bd7 13.Be3 a6 14.a3 Re8 15.Rc1 Nf5 also remains equal.

13.Ndb5

• 13.Be3 Bb4 14.Qb3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nexd5 16.Rad1 Qd7 also remains equal.

13...a6

• 13...c6? 14.dxc6! Bb4 15.cxb7 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 Rab8 gives White two extra pawns.

14.Nxd6

• The game is still equal.14.Nd4?! drops a pawn to 14...b5 15.Bb3 b4 16.Nce2 Nfxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5.

14...Qxd6 15.Qf3 Ng6

• 15...b5 16.Bb3 b4 17.Bf4 Qd8 18.Na4 remains equal.

16.Ne4 Nxe4

• The game remains equal.
• 16...Rfe8?! 17.Nxd6 Rxe1+ 18.Bf1 cxd6 19.b4 Ne5 20.Qc3 White has the initiative.

17.Qxe4 Rfd8

• Black hits at Black's isolated pawn.

18.Bb3

• This is a prophylactic move in anticipation of ...b5.

18...Rd7?!

• Black prepares to double the Rooks on the d-file, but is better to get a Rook behind the c-pawn in order to preapre for its advance.
• 18...Rac8 19.h4 Nf8 20.Qf4 Nd7 21.Qxd6 cxd6 remains equal.

19.Bd2 Ne7

• If 19...Rad8 20.Bb4 c5 21.dxc6 Qxc6 22.Qe8+ Nf8 23.Bxf7+ then:
• If 23...Kh8 24.Bxf8 then:
• 24...Bf5 25.Bb4+ Rxe8 26.Rxe8+ Kh7 27.Bg8+ Kg6 28.g4 wins at least the Bishop.
• If 24...Bg8 25.Re7 Rxe8 26.Bxe8 Rxe7 27.Bxc6 then:
• 27...Rf7 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7 29.Bd5 Rd7 30.Bxg8 Kxg8 31.Rc1 gives White two extra pawns in a Rook ending.
• 27...Rc7? 28.Bf3 b6 29.a4 Rc8 30.Bb4 gives White an extra piece.
• If 23...Rxf7 then after 24.Qxd8 Qb5 25.Ba3 Qf5 26.Re2 Bg6 27.Rae1 White wins.

BLACK: Arthur Kogan
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WHITE: Kiril Georgiev
Position after 19...Ng6e7

20.Qg4!

li]Although White has abandoned the defense of the d-pawn, the balance is maintained by the attack on h-pawn which is undefended owing to the pin in the g-file.

20...Bf5

• 20...Nxd5 21.Bxh6 f5 22.Bxd5+ Qxd5 23.Qg3 gives White more activity.

21.Qf3 Bg6 22.Rad1 Rad8

• 22...Nf5 23.Bf4 Qf6 24.Ba4 Re7 25.Qc3 gives White the more active position.

23.Ba4 b5 24.Bb3 Kh7

• 24...Nxd5 25.Ba5 c6 26.Bxd8 Rxd8 27.Rd4 leaves White up by an exchange.

25.Ba5!

• White smartly exploits the weak points in Black's position, but playing against the center from the kingside works, too.
• 25.Bf4 Qb6 26.h4 h5 27.d6 cxd6 28.Bxf7! (a cool sham sacrifice) 28...Bxf7 29.Be3! wins back the Bishop with interest.

25...Rc8

• Black is forced into passivity to defend the c-pawn.
• 25...Nf5 26.Qc3 Kg8 27.Rc1 Rc8 28.Re5 is little better.

26.a3

• Stronger is 26.h4! h5 27.a3 Nf5 28.Bb4 Qf6 29.Bc2 when:
• 29...Qxb2 30.Bxf5 Rcd8 31.Be7 Bxf5 32.Qxf5+ leaves White a piece to the good.


• 29...Nxh4 30.Qxh5+ Kg8 31.Qg4 gives White a strong initiative.

26...Ng8 27.Bc3 Re7 28.Rxe7 Qxe7

• If 28...Nxe7 29.Bb4 Qd8 30.d6 cxd6 31.Bxf7 then:
• 31...Rc2 32.Rxd6 Qc7 33.Bxg6+ Nxg6 34.Qe4 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 31...Bxf7 32.Qxf7 Ng6 33.Rxd6 gives White an extra pawn.

29.Re1 Qd7 30.Qe3

• If 30.Re5!? c5 31.dxc6 Rxc6 32.h4 then:
• 32...h5! 33.Bd5 Rd6 34.Bb4 Rf6 35.Qd1 Nh6 36.Re7 Black ahs better drawing chances than in the text.
• 32...f6? 33.Rd5 Qe7 34.Rd4 Rc8 35.h5 Bb1 36.Rd1 sets up an attack on Black's kingside.

30...c5 31.dxc6

• If 31.Qe5 Nf6 32.Qe7 Qxe7 33.Rxe7 Rd8 34.Ba5 then:
• 34...Rd7 35.Rxd7 Nxd7 36.d6 c4 37.Bd1 gives White the advantage of the advancing passer.
• 34...Rd6 35.Bc7 Rd7 36.d6 c4 37.Bd1 White has the advaniced passed pawn and the more active game.

31...Qxc6 32.Qf4 Re8?

• Black drops a pawn.
• Black, with more pawn weaknesses than White, should keep his pieces on the board for defensive purposes.
• If 32...Nf6 33.Bxf6 then:
• 33...gxf6 34.Rd1 a5 35.Qd4 a4 36.Bd5 White is still better, but Black has potential for counterplay.
• 33...Qxf6 34.Qxf6 gxf6 35.f4 creates more pawn weaknesses for Black.

BLACK: Arthur Kogan
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WHITE: Kiril Georgiev
Position after 32...Rc8e8

33.Rxe8!

• Also good is 33.Rd1! Qb7 34.Rd6 f6 35.Bd5 when:
• 35...Qb8 36.Qd4 Rd8 37.Rxa6 Ne7 38.Ra8 leaves White a pawn to the good and an active position.
• 35...Qc8 36.Qf3 Re7 37.Rc6 Rc7 38.Be6 gives White a fierce initiative.

33...Qxe8 34.Qd6 Qc8 35.Bd5 Qf5

• 35...Nf6 36.Bxf6 gxf6 37.Qxf6 Qc1+ 38.Kh2 Qc5 39.Bb3 yields White an extra pawn.

36.Bb7 a5 37.Qd4 Nf6 38.Bxa5!

• White wins a pawn.

38...Qb1+ 39.Kh2 Ne4

• 39...Be4 40.Bxe4+ Qxe4 41.Bc3 Qxd4 42.Bxd4 White maintains the extra pawn in the endgame.

40.f3 Ng5 41.Bc3 Ne6 42.Qe5 1-0

• White wins at least another pawn.
• Grandmaster Kogan resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Ehlvest - Shabalov, Boca Raton, Round 9

Jaan Ehlvest
Photo: ChessBase.com


Jaan Ehlvest - Alex Shabalov
Pan American Continental Championship, Round 9
Boca Raton, 7 November 2008

Dutch English Game

1.c4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nge2 Nc6!?

• The players avoid a theoretical struggle.
• If 6...d6 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 then:
• If 8...Nc6 9.Rb1 a5 10.a3 then:
• 10...Be6 11.Nd5 Bf7 12.Nec3 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Nb8 14.Nc3 c6 15.e4 Nd7 16.f4 Be6 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Be3 Rae8 19.Rbe1 Nf6 20.Kh1 Ng4 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Bc5 Rf7 23.exf5 gxf5 24.h3 Nf6 25.Bg1 Bc8 26.Bh2 draw (Bobotsov-Polugaevsky, TMatch, Sofia, 1961).
• 10...Ne7 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 c6 13.f4 Be6 14.b5 Qc7 15.Qb3 Nd7 16.Rd1 Rfe8 17.Rd2 Bf7 18.Qd1 exf4 19.gxf4 d5 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.cxd5 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 cxd5 23.Rc2 Qa7 24.d4 Nf6 25.Nc3 Rac8 26.Bd2 Qd7 27.Rcc1 Rb8 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Rb1 Rxb1 30.Qxb1 is equal (Beliavsky-Salov, Op, Enghien-les-Bains, 1999).
• 8...c6 9.b4 Be6 10.b5 d5 11.bxc6 bxc6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.d4 e4 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Na4 g5 16.Nc5 Bf7 17.Qd2 Nc6 18.Rab1 Na5 19.Nb7 Nc4 20.Qc1 Qd7 21.Nc5 Qc6 gives Black an advantage in space (Hübner-Kasparov, IT, Brussels, 1987).

7.0-0

• The game is equal.
• 7.d4 d6 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 Ne7 is also equal.

7...a6 8.b3 Rb8 9.Bb2

• 9.d4 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.d5 Ne5 12.Bb2 b4 13.Na4 gives White a slight initiative.

9...b5 10.Rb1

• 10.Nd5 e5 11.d3 Re8 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Qc2 Bb7 remains equal.

10...e6 11.d4 Qe8?!

• This move is somewhat passive.
• 11...b4 12.Na4 Ne7 13.a3 bxa3 14.Bxa3 Qe8 15.Qd2 remains equal.

12.Nf4!?

• The game is again level as White misses an opportunity to take advatange.
• 12.d5! Nd8 13.d6 c5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Qd3 Ba6 16.a4 c4 17.bxc4 bxc4 18.Qc2 gives White more freedom.
• After 14.Qd3 Ng4 15.cxb5 Ne5 16.Qc2 axb5 17.Nd1 gives White more activity.

12...g5 13.Nd3 d6

• 13...b4 14.Ne2 d6 15.Qe1 a5 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 remains equal.

14.Rc1 bxc4 15.bxc4 e5 16.dxe5!?

• White decides to open up, but this looks premature.
• 16.d5 Na5 17.Nb1 e4 18.Bc3 Nb7 19.Nb4 Nc5 remains equal.

16...Nxe5!

• 16...dxe5? drops a pawn to 17.Ba3 Ne7 18.Nxe5.

17.Ba1 c6

• 17...Qe6 18.Nd5 c6 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.N5b4 remains equal.

18.Nxe5

• If 18.c5!? then:
• 18...Nxd3 19.Qxd3 d5 20.Rb1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Ne4 remains equal.
• 18...dxc5?! 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Ne4 Qe7 21.Nxg5 Rd8 22.Qa4 gives White the active game.

18...dxe5 19.Qd6 Bd7!?

• Black, typical of Shabalov, is playing for a win. He eschews easy equality.19...Bb7 20.Rb1 e4 21.Rfd1 Ng4 22.c5 Ne5 remains equal.

20.Rfd1

• 20.Rb1 e4 21.Rxb8 Qxb8 22.Qc5 g4 23.Rd1 gives White more freedom.

20...Qh5?

• If 20...Rf7! 21.Rb1 Rxb1 22.Rxb1 Qe6 then:
• 23.Qc5 23...e4 24.Rb8+ Rf8 25.Rb6 remains equal.
• 23.Rb8+ Rf8 24.Qc7 g4 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Qa5 remains equal.

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
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WHITE: Jaan Ehlvest
Position after 20...Qe8h5

21.Na4!

• White will use the queenside dark squares to penetrate Black's position.
• The text is stronger than 21.Nb1 f4 22.gxf4 gxf4 23.Bxe5 fxe3 24.Bxf6 exf2+.

21...Rbe8

• 21...f4 22.gxf4 Bg4 23.fxe5 Bxd1 24.exf6 Bxa4 25.fxg7 gives White the more active game.

22.Nb6 Be6 23.Qxe5 Rf7 24.Qc5!

• White has driven Black's pieces away from the queenside and now wins a pawn.

24...Ng4 25.h3 Nxf2

• 25...Nf6 26.Qxc6 Rff8 27.Rd6 Qf7 28.Bxf6 Bxf6 29.Nd7 White wins at least another pawn.

26.Kxf2 f4

• 26...Bxa1 27.Qxc6 Ref8 28.Rxa1 Rf6 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.Qxd5+ wins for White.

BLACK: Alex Shabalov
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WHITE: Jaan Ehlvest
Position after 26...f5f4

27.Qxc6!

• White taks the pawn (see note to White's 24th move).

27...fxe3+ 28.Kg1 Rf2

• If 28...Rff8 29.Rd6 Bxa1 30.Rxe6 then:
• After 30...Bd4 31.Nd7 e2+ 32.Kh2 Rxe6 33.Qxe6+ Rf7 34.Re1 White wins.
• After 30...Bb2 31.Re1 Rd8 32.Nd5 g4 33.Re4 gxh3 34.Qe6+ White wins.

29.g4 Qf7 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.Qe4

• White wins faster with 31.Rf1 Rxf1+ 32.Rxf1 Qe7 33.Re1 Bf7 34.Nd5.

31...Bc8

• 31...Qf4 32.Qb7+ Kh6 33.Qc6 Rxa2 34.Kh1 Qf2 35.Rd6 maintains White's winning advantage.

32.Qd4+ Kh6 33.Rf1 Bb7

• If 33...Rf4 34.Qd6+ Re6 35.Rxf4 gxf4 36.g5+ then:
• 36...Kh5 37.Bf3+ Kh4 38.Qd4 leaves White a piece ahead.
• After 36...Kxg5 37.Qd5+ Qf5 38.Nxc8 White is two pieces to the good.
• 36...Kg6 37.Qd3+ Qf5 38.Qxf5+ Kxf5 39.Nxc8 gives White two extra pieces.

34.Nd5 Bxd5 35.cxd5 1-0

• If 35...Rxf1+ 36.Rxf1 then:
• 36...Qg6 37.h4 e2 38.hxg5+ Qxg5 39.Rf6+ Kg7 40.Re6+ is an easy win for White.
• 36...e2 37.Rxf7 e1Q+ 38.Kh2 leaves White a piece to the good.
• Mr. Shabalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Garry Kasparov (The Australian): Lynch Mob Lies (on the US election)

From The Australian
Dated Wednesday, November 5

Lynch Mob Lies
By Garry Kasparov

is no doubt Barack Obama's election as the next president of the US would have an impact on how many in the rest of the world think about the sole superpower. Obama represents a new generation of leadership, and he sounds and looks very different from his predecessors.

Here in Russia, as in most places I have visited recently, Obama's appearance -- he would be the first black leader of any world power -- is getting the most attention. His victory would mark the end of the view of the US still promoted by many in Russia, a line used by the Soviets to counter accusations of repression: "Ah, but in the US they lynch negroes." It is practically conventional wisdom, and not just in Russia, that in the US the rich WASPs and Jews exploit the poor blacks and Latinos. If Obama wins, it will be as if suddenly everyone can see the world is undeniably round.

Unfortunately, most would rather talk about what this is likely to mean for race relations in the US instead of confronting the racism and xenophobia in our own nations. But the only thing that will matter, and surprisingly soon, is whether Obama acts differently. The window of opportunity for Obama to take advantage of the world's curiosity and goodwill will be small. The crises we face are too big; the next US president will not enjoy much of a grace period.

Obama would be halfway there simply by virtue of not being George W. Bush.

Garry Kasparov, a leader of The Other Russia coalition (theotherrussia.org), is a former world chess champion and lives in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Read more at the link.