The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (December 7): The FIDE Follies

[Jack Rabbit]

The FIDE Follies



Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is the George W. Bush of chess. OK, I know. That one's getting old. So is Kirsan's autocracy over FIDE.

At the close of the 38th Olympiad in Dresden last week, FIDE had an annoucement to make about the current world championship cycle. Kirsan is changing the rules at his pleasure again.

It's all a little confusing. The next challenger ofr the world championship is supposed to be chosen in a series of six Grand Prix tournaments. Except now it looks like there will only be four Grand Prix tournaments. The system is crubling finacially.

So Kirsan has chosen to introuduce a new system without asking the players who have been competing in the Grand Prix what they think about it.

Magnus Carlsen, who turned eighteen as the Dresden games completed, announced his withdrawal from the Grand Prix.

Levon Aronian has suggested the Kirsan review the decision, and reverse it.

Alexei Shirov has suggested banning FIDE. That may be the best idea of all.

Meanwhile, grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk refused to take a drug test after game in Dresden which he lost. FIDE is threatening the popular Ukrainian GM with a two year ban from chess.



Calendar

Russian Women's Championship, Moscow 5-14 December.

International Tournament, Nanjing 10-22 December. This promises to be the first of a new annual elite tournament. Participants: Topalov, Ivanchuk, Aronian, Movsesian, Svidler, Bu.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha Elista 13-29 December.

Asian Club Cup, Al Ain (UAE) 24-31 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.

FIDE Grand Prix, Moscow 30 January-8 February.

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 16-27 February.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Sofia 16-28 February. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand for the world championship.

Linares Grandmaaster Tournament 18 February-8 March.

European Individual Championships, Budva (Montenegro) 5-19 March.

[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
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Cuartas - Leko, Round 6, Dresden

Peter Leko
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Jaime Cuartas (Colombia) - Peter Leko (Hungary)
38th Olympiad (General Competition), Round 6/Board 1
Dresden, 19 November 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Lasker's Exchange Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.Nc3

• If 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Nxd4 Bd7 then:
• If 8.Be3 0-0-0 then:
• 9.Nd2 Ne7 10.0-0-0 c5 11.N4f3 Nc6 12.Ng5 Be8 13.f4 b6 14.Ndf3 Be7 15.Rxd8+ Nxd8 16.e5 Bc6 17.Rf1 f5 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Nh3 Rg8 (Trevelyan-Jenni, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 9.Nc3 Bb4 10.Nde2 Ne7 11.0-0-0 Ng6 12.Nf4 Nxf4 13.Bxf4 Be6 14.a3 Bc5 15.f3 Bc4 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Nd1 Be6 18.Re1 is equal (Kuderinov-Filippov, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 8.0-0 0-0-0 9.Nc3 f6 10.Be3 Bd6 11.Rad1 Ne7 12.Nb3 Rhe8 is equal (Pintor-Sekulovska, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 8.Nc3 tranposes into the text or the note following White's ninth move in this variation.
• For 5.0-0 (Fischer's Exchange Opening), see Bojkovic-Zhao Xue, OlW Rd 9, Dresden, 2008.

5...f6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4

• If 7.Nxd4 c5 8.Nde2 Qxd1+ 9.Nxd1 then:
• If 9...Be6 10.Bf4 0-0-0 11.Ne3 Ne7 12.Rd1 Rxd1+ 13.Kxd1 f5 14.Kc1 fxe4 15.Nc3 Nf5 16.Nxf5 Bxf5 17.Nd5 c6 18.Nb6+ Kd8 19.Rd1+ Ke8 20.Bg5 Be7 is equal ( Sherbakov- Sherbakov, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• 9...Bd7 10.Bf4 0-0-0 11.Ne3 Bc6 12.f3 Ne7 13.Rd1 Rxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Ng6 15.Bg3 Be7 16.h4 h5 17.Kc1 Bd8 18.Rd1 Rf8 19.b3 gives White more freedom (Landa-Malaniuk, Op, Chappelle la Grande, 1995).

7...Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.f3

• If 9.Be3 0-0-0 10.0-0-0 Ne7 11.Nde2 Ng6 12.h4 h5 13.Nf4 Ne5 is equal (Sahu-Geller, IT, Coimbatore, 1987).

9...0-0-0 10.Kf2 Ne7 11.Be3 f5!?

• This new move is good for equality.
• 11...Ng6 12.Rad1 Bd6 13.Nde2 Rhe8 14.h4 Ne5 15.b3 c5 16.Rd2 Bc6 17.Rhd1 Bf8 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Nf4 Kd7 21.g4 draw (Kochyev-Savon, Op, St. Petersburg, 1994).

12.exf5

• If 12.Rad1 h6 13.Rhe1 g6 then:
• 14.e5 c5! 15.e6 cxd4 16.Bxd4 Rg8 17.exd7+ Rxd7 is equal.
• After 14...Nd5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.e6 Be8 17.Ne2 c5 18.c3 White's passer give him the advantage.
• After 14.Nb3 b6 15.Bd4 Rh7 16.Bf6 fxe4 17.Nxe4 gives White more activity and better pawn structure.

12...Nxf5 13.Nxf5

• 13.Ne4 Nxe3 14.Kxe3 Bd6 15.Rad1 Rhe8 remains equal.

13...Bxf5 14.Rac1 Be7 15.Ne2

• If 15.Ne4 Bxe4 16.fxe4 then Black exploits the isolated e-pawn by 16...Bf6 17.Rb1 Rde8.

15...c5 16.Ng3 Bg6 17.c3 b6 18.Rcd1 Bf7

• 18...Bh4 19.Rhe1 Bf7 20.b3 c4 21.b4 Rd3 22.Bd4 remains equal.

19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Ra1?!

• 20.a4 a5 then:
• After 21.h4 Be8 22.Bg5 Bxg5 23.hxg5 Rd2+ 24.Kg1 Bg6 Black must win a pawn.
• 21.Re1 Bh4 22.Bc1 Re8 23.Re4 Rxe4 24.fxe4 Bg6 leaves Black threatening White's passed pawn, which has no protection.

20...Bh4 21.Bf4 Kb7 22.Kg1 Re8!?

• This allows White's rejoinder, blocking the e-file to the Black Rook and placing the Knight on a splendid outpost.
• Black maintains a small advatage after 22...g5 23.Be3 Bxg3 24.hxg3 h6 25.f4 g4.

23.Ne4!

• White has equalized.

23...Bd5 24.g3 Bd8 25.Re1 Kc6

• Black's ambition now is defensive: bring the King to d7 to protect the Rook.
• 25...Bf7 26.Kf2 Kc6 27.b3 b5 28.h4 remains equal.

26.a3 g5 27.Bd2 g4 28.Kf2 gxf3

• 28...Kd7 29.Bh6 c6 30.Bf4 a5 31.h3 gxf3 32.Kxf3 remains equal.

29.Ng5?!

• Perhaps Black was hoping for Black to reply 29...Bxg5 30.Bxg5 31.Rxe1 Kxe1 when White goes to the ending with Bishops of opposite color and good chances to draw.
• 29.Kxf3 Kd7 30.Bh6 c6 31.g4 c4 32.Bf4 Bh4 remains equal.

BLACK: Peter Leko
!""""""""#
$ + Vt+ +%
$+ O + +o%
$oOl+ + +%
$+ Ov+ N %
$ + + + +%
$p P +oP %
$ P B K P%
$+ + R + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jaime Cuartas
Position after 29.Ne4g5

29...Rxe1!

• The Rook exchange is well-timed. Black has two Bishops in an open center and an extra pawn to take to the ending.
• 29...Kd7?! 30.Rxe8 Kxe8 31.Nxh7 remains equal.

30.Kxe1 h5

• Black prefers not to play 30...Bxg5 in order to avoid a Bishops of opposite color ending.

31.a4?

• White misses the last chance to equalize.
• 31.Kf2! Kb5 32.Nxf3 Bxf3 33.Kxf3 Kc4 is equal.
• 31...Bxg5!? 32.Bxg5 Kb5 33.Bf4 Kc4 34.Bxc7 is exactly what Black doesn't want.

31...b5 32.axb5+ Kxb5!

• 32...axb5? allows 33.Nh3! h4 34.Kf2! Bf6 35.Ng1 hxg3+ 36.hxg3 with equality.

33.Nh3

• If 33.Kf2 then:
• 33...Kc4 34.Nxf3 Kb3 35.c4 Bxf3 36.Kxf3 Bf6 Black has a winning advantage.
• 33...Bxg5!? 34.Bxg5 Kc4 35.Bf6 Be4 36.h3 Black's extra pawn is less of an advantage due to the Bishops of opposite color.

33...Kc4 34.Kd1

• If 34.Kf2 Kb3 35.c4 then:
• After 35...Bb7 36.Bc3 a5 37.Nf4 a4 gives White the active King.
• If 35...Kxc4 36.Bc3 a5 37.Ng1 a4 then:
• If 38.Be5 then after 38...Bg5 39.Nxf3 Bxf3 40.Kxf3 Bc1 41.Bg7 Kb3 Black wins.
• If 38.Nxf3 a3! 39.Ne5+ Kb3 then:
• 40.bxa3 Kxc3 Black wins.
• If 40.Nd3 c4 41.Nc5+ Kc2 42.Na6 axb2 Black wins.

34...Kb3 35.Kc1 Bf6 36.Nf2

• If 36.Be3 a5 37.Bxc5 a4 then:
• If 38.Nf4 then after Bg5 39.Be3 Bc4 40.Ba7 c6 41.Bc5 h4 gives Black a winning position.
• If 38.Be3 Be7 39.Nf2 a3 then:
• If 40.bxa3 then after 40...Kxc3 41.a4 Ba3+ 42.Kd1 Bb3+ Black regains the extra pawn.
• If 40.Kb1 then after 40...axb2 41.Bd4 Bg8 42.Ne4 Bh7 Black mates on the next move.

36...a5 37.Be3 c4 38.h4

• If 38.g4 hxg4 39.Nxg4 Bh4 40.Kb1 Be4+ then:
• 41.Kc1 Bf5 42.Nh6 f2 43.Bxf2 Bg5+ wins for Black.
• If 41.Ka1 a4 42.Bc5 Bf5 then:
• If 43.Ne3 then f2 44.Nf1 a3 45.Bxa3 Bh3 46.Nd2+ Kc2 wins.
• If 43.Bf2 then 43...Bxf2 44.Nxf2 a3 wins.

38...a4 39.Nd1 Be4 40.Nf2

• If 40.Bf2 then after 40...Bg7 41.Ne3 Bh6 42.Kd1 Bxe3 43.Bxe3 Kxb2 Black wins.

40...Bf5!

• This prevents the White Knight from moving forward.

41.Nd1 Bc2 42.Nf2

• 42.Bc5 Bxd1 43.Kxd1 Kxb2 44.Kd2 Bxc3+ 45.Ke3 Ba5 leaves Black unable to stop the a- and c-pawn.

BLACK: Peter Leko
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ O + + %
$ + + V +%
$+ + + +o%
$o+o+ + P%
$+lP BoP %
$ Pv+ N +%
$+ K + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jaime Cuartas
Position after 42.Nd1f2

42...Bxc3!!

• A neat tactical stroke decides matter immediately.

43.bxc3 a3 0-1

• The a-pawn cannot be stopped.
• El señor Cuartas resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Nakamura - Bruzón, Round 6, Dresden

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hikaru Nakamura (United States) - Lázaro Bruzón (Cuba)
38th Olympiad (General Competition), Round 6/Board 2
Dresden, 19 November 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Marshall Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3

• 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Nd7 9.Nf3 c5 10.Bc3 Ngf6 11.Qd6 Qc6 12.Qg3 0-0 13.Rd1 Nh5 14.Qh4 g6 15.Rxd7! Qxd7 16.g4 Qd8 17.gxh5 Qxh4 18.Nxh4 e5 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Rg1 Re8 21.Nf3 f6 22.Rxg6+ Kf7 23.Rg3 Bd7 24.Nd2 Rh8 25.Ne4 b6 26.Rf3 f5 27.Bxe5 Rh4 28.Nd6+ Black resigns (Marshall-Schlechter, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).

3...Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e4

• 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4 is a typical Open Queen's Gambit position.

6...Bb4 7.e5

• If 7.Bg5 b5 8.e5 h6 9.exf6 hxg5 10.fxg7 Rg8 then:
• If 11.h4 g4 12.Ne5 Rxg7 13.h5 f5 14.Be2 Qg5 then:
• 15.axb5 cxb5 16.d5 Bb7 17.dxe6 Bxg2 18.Rg1 Bb7 Gives Black an extra pawn, but White has potential for counterplay (Lautier-Thorsteinsson, IT, site unrecorded, 1986).
• 15.Kf1 Bb7 16.axb5 Bxc3 17.bxc6 Nxc6 18.bxc3 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bd5 20.Qa4+ Kf8 21.Bxc4 Qd2 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Qd4 Qxd4 24.cxd4 Rd7 25.Ra6 Rad8 26.h6 gives White the advantage (Kramnik-Yusudin, IT, Pamplona, 1993).
• 11.g3 Bb7 12.Bg2 Nd7 13.h4 gxh4 14.Rxh4 Qf6 15.Kf1 a6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Qxe5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8+ Bxa8 20.Qa1 Bb7 21.Qa7 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Qb8+ Ke7 24.Qxb7+ Kf6 25.Rf4+ Kg5 26.Qe7+ f6 27.Bh3 Black resigns in a mating net (Yermolinsky-Monin, Leningrad, 1987).

7...Nd5 8.Bd2 b5 9.axb5 Bxc3 10.bxc3 cxb5 11.Ng5 Nc6

• If 11...Bb7 12.Qh5 Qe7 13.Be2 Nd7 then:
• If 14.Bf3 h6 15.Ne4 0-0 16.h4 f6 17.Nd6 fxe5 18.dxe5 then:
• 18...Rf5? 19.Nxf5 exf5 20.0-0 Qxe5 21.Rfe1 Qf6 22.Re8+ Nf8 23.Rxa8 Bxa8 24.Rxa7 gives White the material advantage and greater activity.(Sebenik-Withersohn, IT, Brno, 2006).
• Black could maintain the advantage with 18...Nc5! 19.0-0 Nd3 20.Ra5 a6.
• 14.0-0 h6 15.Ne4 Nf4 16.Bxf4 Bxe4 17.Qg4 Bd5 is equal (Dreev-Dokhoian, IT, Tallinn, 1986).

12.Qh5

• 12.h4 f6 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Be2 0-0 15.Qb1 a6 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom (Pentala-Popov, Aeroglot Op, Moscow, 2007).

12...Qe7 13.Ne4!?

• Black has an extra pawn and more activity; White's extra space is too little to compensate.
• If 13.Be2 b4 14.0-0 h6 15.Ne4 bxc3 then:
• If 16.Bc1 Ncb4 17.Bxc4 0-0 then:
• If 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bc1 f5 20.Nd6 a5 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn, which is advanced and passed, but White has more space (Ngoc Trongson Nguyen-Kobalia, City Open, Moscow, 2008).
• 18.Bxd5! exd5 19.Nxc3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 16.Bg5! Qd7 17.Nd6+ Kf8 18.Be3 Bb7 19.Bxc4 Ncb4 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn, but White has more space.

13...0-0 14.Bg5

• If 14.Nd6 Rb8 15.Be2 b4 16.cxb4 then:
• If 16...Nxd4 17.Ra4 Nxe2 18.Kxe2 c3 Black's c-pawn is a positional advantage.
• 17.Rc1 c3 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bd3 Nf5 20.Nxc8 Rfxc8 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn.

14...f6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Bh6

• In spite of being at a disadvantage, White continues to defend actively.
• 16.Bc1?! f5 17.Ng5 Nxc3 18.Ba3 b4 19.Bb2 Nxd4 gives Black a second extra pawn.

16...Rd8 17.Be2

• If 17.Rb1? a6 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.Qe2 e5 20.f3 exd4 21.cxd4 Re8 22.Kf2 f5 Black wins the d-pawn by 23.Ng5 Qxe2+ 24.Kxe2 Nxd4.
• If 19.Qh5 then Black wins after 19...e5 20.dxe5 f5 21.Ng3 Qxe5+.

17...e5 18.0-0

• If 18.dxe5 then after 18...Qxe5 19.Qxe5 Nxe5 20.0-0-0 Bb7 Black has an extra pawn and the better center.

18...Qf7 19.Qh4!?

• White seeks counterplay on the kingside.
• If 19.Qxf7+ Kxf7 20.dxe5 Nxe5 then:
• 21.Bh5+ Ke7 22.Be3 Nxe3 23.fxe3 f5 24.Ng3 Rd3 leaves Black a pawn to the good with more activity.
• If 21.f4 Nd3 22.Bf3 Bf5 then:
• 23.Ng3 Kg6 24.Bg5 Bg4 25.Bxg4 fxg5 gives White the advantage in the center and the queenside.
• 23.Bh5+ Ke7 24.Ng3 Bg6 25.Bf3 a5 gives Black a winning edge in space and activity.

19...Bf5?!

• Black develops a piece and attacks White's centralized Knight, but the Knight is already defended and the maneuver is fruitless.
• After 19...exd4 20.Bf3 Be6 21.Nc5 Bf5 22.cxd4 a5 Black maintains a distinct advantage in space.

20.Ra6

• With the removal of the Knight at c6, the Rook can navigate to the center or even through it to the kingside.
• If 20.Bh5 Bg6 21.Ra6 then:
• 21...Rac8 22.Bxg6 Qxg6 23.dxe5 fxe5 Black still has an extra pawn.
• If 21...Bxh5?? then after 22.Rxc6! exd4 23.Nxf6+ Nxf6 24.Rxf6! White wins a piece

20...Bxe4 21.Rxc6!

• After 21.Qxe4 Nxc3 22.Qg4+ Qg6 23.Rxc6 exd4 24.Qxg6+ hxg6 Black's advanced queenside pawns are an advantage.

21...Nf4 22.Rxf6 Nxe2+

• Black is aware that he has not won a piece.

23.Kh1 Qb7

• 23...Bxg2+? 24.Kxg2 Qd5+ 25.f3 Kh8 26.Rg6 is equal.

24.Qg5+ Bg6?

• Black throws away his advantage.
• 24...Kh8! 25.f3 Rg8 26.Qxe5 Qd5 27.Qe7 Bd3 28.Rc6 Qf5! leaves Black up a piece.

BLACK: Lázaro Bruzón
!""""""""#
$t+ T +l+%
$Ow+ + +o%
$ + + RvB%
$+o+ O Q %
$ +oP + +%
$+ P + + %
$ + +mPpP%
$+ + +r+k%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 24...Be4g6

25.Rxg6+!!

• The sacrifice strips the King's cover bare.

25...hxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kh8 27.Bg5

• White threatens mate in two.

27...Rf8

• Giving up the exchange is the only way out.
• If 27...Rd7 28.Bf6+ Rg7 29.Bxg7+ Qxg7 then:
• 30.Qh5+! Kg8 31.Qxe2 exd4 32.Qh5 Rb8 33.Qd5+ leaves White a pawn to the good.
• Black wins after 30.Qxg7+?? Kxg7.

28.Bf6+

• After 28.Qh5+? Kg8 29.Qxe2 exd4 30.Be7 Rf7 31.Qg4+ Rg7 the best White has is to draw by perpetual check: 32.Qe6+ Kh7 33.Qh3+ Kg6 34.Qe6+ Kh7 etc.
• 32...Rf7 33.Qg6+ Rg7 34.Qe6+ etc.

28...Rxf6 29.Qxf6+ Kg8 30.Qe6+ Qf7

• If 30...Kh7 then 31.Qf5+ Kg8 32.Qg4+ also works.

31.Qg4+ Qg7 32.Qxe2 exd4 33.cxd4

• 33.Qh5 Rb8 34.Qd5+ transposes to the note after Black's 27th move.

33...Rd8?

• Black misses his last chance to save the game.
• 33...Qxd4! 34.Qe6+ Kg7 35.Qe7+ Kh8 36.Qb7 Rf8 equalizes.

34.Rb1?!

• White should still win, but he misses a chance to put the game away faster.
• 34.Qe6+ Qf7 35.Qa6 Rd5 36.Re1 Rxd4 37.Qxb5 c3 38.Re8+ Black must wait before advancing any further the passed pawn while he deals with White's mating threats.

34...Qxd4 35.Qe6+ Kg7 36.Qe7+ Kh8

BLACK: Lázaro Bruzón
!""""""""#
$ + T + L%
$O + Q + %
$ + + + +%
$+o+ + + %
$ +oW + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + PpP%
$+r+ + +k%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 36...Kg7h8

37.h3!

• White is now ready to deploy the Rook. This quiet move decides the struggle.

37...a6

• Black has no good moves.
• 37...c3 38.Rxb5 then:
• If 38...Qd1+ 39.Kh2 Qd6+ 40.Qxd6 Rxd6 41.Rb8+ then:
• 41...Kg7 42.Rb7+ Kf6 43.Rc7 leaves no way for Black to defend the c-pawn.
• 41...Kh7? 42.Rc8 Rd3 43.Rc7+ Kg6 44.Rxa7 Black cannot prevent White from playing 45.Rc7, immobilizing the Black Rook or winning the last pawn.
• 38...c2? 39.Rh5+ Kg8 40.Qh7+ Kf8 41.Rf5+ Ke8 42.Qf7#.

38.Re1 c3 39.Re5

• Better is 39.Re6 c2 40.Rh6+ Kg8 41.Qe6+ Kf8 42.Qf5+ when:
• 42...Kg8 43.Rg6+ Black must submit to mate or lose the Queen.
• If 42...Ke8 then after 43.Re6+ Kd7 44.Qf7+ Kc8 45.Rc6+ Kb8 46.Qc7+ Ka8 47.Rxa6+ White mates on the next move.

39...Qd1+ 40.Kh2 Qd6 41.Qh4+ Kg7 42.Qg3+ Kf6

• If 42...Kf7 43.Qf4+ Kg7 44.Qg5+ then:
• 44...Kf8 45.f4 Rd7 46.Qf5+ Kg7 47.Re6 White wins easily.
• 44...Kf7 45.g3 Rf8 46.Qf4+ Qf6 47.Rf5 wins the Queen.

43.f4 c2

• The pawn is Black's last best chance, but White has a simple tactical resource to put an end to the "threat."

BLACK: Lázaro Bruzón
!""""""""#
$ + T + +%
$+ + + + %
$o+ W L +%
$+ + R + %
$ + + P +%
$+ + + Qp%
$ +o+ +pK%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 43...c3c2

44.Qg5+!

• The text is much faster than 44.Qh4+ Kg7 45.Rg5+ Kf8 46.Qh8+ then:
• 46...Ke7 47.Qh7+ Ke8 48.Rg8+ Qf8 49.Rxf8+ Kxf8 50.Qxc2 when White wins.
• If 46...Kf7 then 47.Qh5+ Ke6 48.Rg6+ Kd7 49.Qf5+ Kc6 50.Qxc2+ wins the Queen.

44...Kf7 45.Qf5+ Kg7 46.Qxc2 Rf8

• If 46...Qd3 then after 47.Rg5+ Kf7 48.Qc7+ Rd7 49.Qe5 Qd6 50.Qg7+ White wins with no difficulty.

47.Rg5+ Kf7 48.Qh7+ Ke8

• If 48...Ke6 then 49.Re5+ Kf6 50.Qf5+ Kg7 51.Qg4+ wins.

49.Re5+ Kd8 50.Qb7 1-0

• There is no adequate defense against 51.Rd5.
• El señor Bruzón resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Lomineishvili - Vega, Round 7, Dresden

Maia Lomineishvili
receiving her bronze medal for individual performance on baord 4
from FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Maia Lomineishvili (Georgia) - Sabrina Vega (Spain)
38th Olympiad (Women's Competition), Round 7/Board 3
Dresden, 20 November 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bd6

• If 8...Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bc2 c4 then:
• If 14.Qe2 Bd6 then:
• 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.f4 e5 17.Nf5 0-0 18.Rd1 Nd3 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Bxd3 cxd3 21.Rxd3 Qc7 22.f5 b4 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Rxf5 25.Be3 e4 26.Rd4 Rxd5 27.Rxb4 is equal (Koneru-Stellwagen, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• 15.Ng5 Nc5 16.f4 h6 17.Nf3 Nd3 18.Bxd3 cxd3 19.Qxd3 Rd8 20.Qe2 Bxf4 21.Kh1 0-0 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 gives Black the advantage in space (Hahn-Adamson, US ch, San Diego, 2004).
• 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5 16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng5 0-0 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nxf8 Rxf8 21.Qe2 Qe6 22.h3 Bd4 23.Rab1 Qf7 24.Kh2 Nh5 25.Nd5 g6 26.Ne3 Nf4 draw (Korotylev-Dreev, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 14.Ng5 Nc5 15.e5 Qxe5 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Qxd6 Bxd6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Nxe6 Rfc8 22.h3 Rab8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Rd6 b4 25.Na4 Rd5 26.Rb6 Rb5 27.Rxb5 draw (Gelfand-Shirov, IT, Biel, 1995).

9.Qc2 Bb7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rd1

• 11.a3 a5 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.h3 Re8 16.Be3 Qc7 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.Ne2 Bd6 is equal (Anand-Kramnik, Rapid Match, Moscow, 2007).
• 11.e4 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.h3 Re8 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Ne2 Rad8 17.f4 Rxd3 18.Qxd3 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Qxe4 20.Qxe4 Rxe4 21.Rxb2 Rxe3 gives Black more activity (T. Kosintseva-Medic, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).

11...Qb8!?

• 11...a6 12.a4 Qb8 13.h3 b4 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Nf6 16.Bd3 Rc8 17.Ng5 h6 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 c5 20.dxc5 Rxc5 21.Qd3 Be5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Kelly-Miton, Ol Rd 1, Dresden, 2008).

12.h3

• White denies use of g5 to the Black Knight.

12...Re8 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nge4 Bf8?!

• If 14...e5 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Ne4 then:
• 16...Nxe4! 17.Bxe4 Nf6 18.dxe5 Qxe5 is equal.
• 16...Qe7?! 17.Nxf6+ Nxf6 18.dxe5 Qxe5 19.Bd2 Qg5 20.e4 gives White more freedom.

15.b3 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 e5 17.Bb2

• 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Be2 a5 19.a4 Qc8 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.Rxd6 White has the advantage in space.

17...exd4 18.Bxd4 c5?

• It's hard to determine what Black expected of this pawn sacrifice.
• 18...Ba3 19.Ng3 Bf8 20.Bxa7 Qxa7 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Rxd7 gives White an extra pawn.

19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 Rc8

• Black may have thought this was a pin it and win it situation when she played her 18th move.

BLACK: Sabrina Vega
!""""""""#
$tWt+ Vl+%
$Ov+ +oO %
$ + + + O%
$+oB + + %
$ + + + +%
$+p+bP +p%
$p+q+ Pp+%
$R +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Maia Lomineishvili
Position after 20...Re8c8

21.b4!

• Regrdless of Black's ideas behind her 18th move, the sacrifice is refuted.

21...Bxc5 22.bxc5 Qe5 23.Rac1

• White not only holds the c-pawn, but threatens the b-pawn.

23...a6

• After 23...Bc6 24.Bf5 Rd8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.cxd6 Rd8 27.Qxc6 White still has an extra pawn and more activity.

24.Bh7+ Kf8 25.Bf5

• Also good is 25.Rd4 Rc7 26.Be4 Bxe4 27.Qxe4 Qxe4 28.Rxe4 when White continues to enjoy an extra pawn with more activity.

25...Rc7 26.Rd4 Re8 27.Bd7 Rd8 28.c6 Bc8

• After 28...Qf6 29.cxb7 Rxb7 30.Bg4 Rxd4 31.exd4 Rb8 32.Qh7 White is up a piece and Black is defenseless.

29.Rcd1 g6

• After 29...Bxd7 30.Rxd7 Rdxd7 31.Rxd7 g6 32.Qc1 Rc8 33.Qa3+ White has an easy win.

30.Rd5 Qe7 31.Qc3

• White threatens mate on the move.

31...Kg8 32.Qa5 Ra7 33.Qb6

• Also good is 33.Bxc8 Rxc8 when:
• White wins after 34.Rd8+ Rxd8 35.Rxd8+ Kh7 36.Qb6 Rc7 37.Qd4.
• 34.Rd7 Rxd7 35.cxd7 Rd8 36.Qxa6 b4 37.Qb7 also wins for White.

33...Ra8 34.c7 Rxd7 35.Rxd7 Bxd7 36.Qb8+!

• White finds the only move that keeps the advantage.

36...Qf8

• Before resigning, Black allows White to win in style.
• No better is 36...Rxb8 37.cxb8Q+ Be8 38.Rd6 a5 39.Rd5 Kf8 40.Rxb5.

BLACK: Sabrina Vega
!""""""""#
$tQ + Wl+%
$+ Pv+o+ %
$o+ + +oO%
$+o+ + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + O +o%
$o+ + oo+%
$+ +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Maia Lomineishvili
Position after 36...Qe7f8

37.Qxa8!!

• A Queen sacrfice is a joy forever.

37...Qxa8 38.Rxd7 1-0

• Black connot prevent the pawn from promoting.
• La señorita Vega resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Linares - Partac, Round 7, Dresden

Oleiny Linares
Photo: SierraMaestra.cu (Cuba)


Oleiny Linares (Cuba) - Elena Partac (Moldova)
38th Olympiad (Women's Competition), Round 7/Board 4
Dresden, 20 November 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Royal Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Nb3

• If 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Bb3 then:
• If 8...d6 then:
• If 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 then:
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.h4 a5 then:
• If 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 then:
• 14...e5 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qxa5 Bxb3 18.cxb3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.exd5 Rxb3 22.Bc5 Rc8 23.Ba3 e4 24.0-0 draw (Liberzon-Adorjan, TMatch, Moscow, 1971).
• 14...Be6 15.Nb6 Ra6 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Qc7 18.Ra4 Rb8 19.Kf2 h5 20.Re1 Ne8 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.g4 Qd8 23.Kg2 Ra7 24.Qe3 Rab7 25.Re4 Rb4 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• 13.h5 a4 14.Bd5 e5 15.Be3 b4 16.Ne2 Nxd5 17.exd5 Rc8 18.c3 bxc3 19.Nxc3 a3 20.bxa3 e4 is equal (Gresser-Rubtsova, Interzonal W, Ohrid, 1971).
• If 10...Rc8 11.0-0-0 Ne5 then:
• 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 b5 15.g4 a5 16.gxh5 a4 17.h6 Bh8 18.h7+ Nxh7 19.Bd5 b4 20.Nce2 Nxg5 21.hxg5 e6 22.Nf4 Bg7 23.Ndxe6 Bxe6 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bxe6+ Nf7 26.Qh2 Re8 is equal (Amonotov-Le Quang Liem, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12.Kb1 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 18.Nd5 Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 Re6 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 gives White four pawns for a minor piece (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 9.h3 Bd7 10.0-0 Qa5 11.f4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Qd3 Rad8 14.Rad1 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Nf6 17.Kh2 e5 18.fxe5 Qxe5+ 19.Kg1 a6 20.Rd3 Rd7 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.a3 h5 23.R3d2 h4 24.Rd3 Re8 25.Bd5 Qxd4+ 26.Rxd4 Bxd5 27.exd5 g5 is equal (I. Smirin-Lutz, Zonal, Dresden, 1998).
• If 8...a5 9.f3 d5 then:
• If 10.Bxd5 Nxd5 then:
• 11.Nxd5 f5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Rd1 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 fxe4 17.Nxc8 Rxc8 18.b3 exf3 19.gxf3 a4 20.Ke2 Ra8 is equal (Landa-Kuzubov, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• 11.exd5 Nb4 12.Nde2 Bf5 13.Rc1 b5 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Nd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Nxc2 17.Rxc2 Bxc2 18.Bh6 e5 19.Qxe5 f6 20.Qe6+ Rf7 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 Qd7 23.Qxd7 Rxd7 24.Rxf6 Re8 25.Kf2 draw (DeFirmian-Pigusov, World Cup, Moscow, 1989).
• 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Nde2 a4 12.Nxa4 Nfxd5 13.Bf2 Bf5 14.0-0 b5 15.Nac3 Nxc3 16.Nxc3 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Bxc2 18.Bxc2 Nxc2 19.Rac1 Bxc3 20.Rxc2 Bf6 draw (Shirov-Lautier,IT, Tilburg, 1997).

6...Nf6 7.Be2 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1

• If 9.Be3 Be6 10.f4 Qc8 11.Kh1 then:
• If 11...Rd8 then:
• If 12.Bg1 d5 13.e5 Ne4 then:
• 14.Nb5 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.c3 f5 17.a4 Kh8 18.a5 d4 19.N3xd4 a6 20.Na3 Nxa5 21.Qa4 Nc6 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23.Bf3 Rd2 24.Qc4 Qe8 25.Qb3 b5 26.Rfe1 Na5 27.Qb4 Nc6 28.Qb3 Na5 draw (Negi-G. Jones, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 14.Bd3 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.Nb5 f5 17.c3 Bf7 18.a4 b6 19.Qc2 Qb7 20.Rad1 a6 21.N5d4 Na5 22.Nxa5 bxa5 23.Nf3 Rdb8 24.Rb1 Qb3 25.Qxb3 Rxb3 26.Rfe1 Rab8 gives Black a more active game (Sammalvuo-Karlsson, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 2006-07).
• 12.Bf3 Bc4 13.Rf2 e5 14.Qd2 Qc7 15.Rd1 Rac8 16.Qc1 b5 17.f5 b4 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Ne7 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.Bg5 Nh7 is equal (Rogozin-Aronin, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1948).
• 11...Bg4 12.Bg1 Rb8 13.Nd4 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Bxa7 Rb7 19.Bd4 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe5 is equal (Glek-Khalifman, PCA Qual, Moscow, 1995).

9...Be6

• If 9...a6 10.Bf1 b5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 then:
• 12...Nd7 13.Rb1 Nb6 14.Nd5 g5 15.Bg3 Nc4 16.c3 e6 17.Ne3 N4e5 18.f3 Bb7 19.Qd2 Qc7 20.Rbd1 Rad8 is equal (Schmaltz-Kotronias, Op, Athens, 2003).
• 12...Bb7 13.a4 b4 14.Nd5 Nd7 15.Rb1 Nb6 16.Qd2 Nxa4 17.Nxb4 Nxb4 18.Qxb4 Bc6 19.e5 Qb8 20.Qa3 g5 21.Bg3 dxe5 22.Nd4 give White more space and freedom (Gelfand-Kramnik, IT, Novgorod, 1996).

10.Bf1

• If 10.Bg5 Rc8 11.Bf1 Ne5 12.Nd5 then:
• If 12...Bxd5 13.exd5 Qd7 then:
• 14.c3 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Qf3 h6 17.Be3 Ra4 18.Bd4 Qb5 19.Red1 Rc8 20.Bxf6 exf6 21.Qe3 is equal (Trygstad-Dannevig, Norwegian Ch, Kristiansund, 2001).
• 14.h3 h6 15.Be3 a6 16.a4 Qc7 17.Re2 Rfe8 18.a5 Nfd7 19.Bd4 e6 20.dxe6 Rxe6 is equal (Moreno-Daskevics, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• If 12...Nc4 then:
• 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.Qd3 Bxd5 15.exd5 Qc8 16.c3 Re8 17.Re2 Ra4 18.h3 Qc4 19.Qxc4 Rxc4 20.Rd1 Ra4 21.Nc1 Ne4 is equal (Arzumanian-Zubarev, Ukrainian ChT, Alushta, 2000).
• 13.Nxf6+ exf6 14.Bc1 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.c3 d5 18.Qf3 Bc6 19.b3 Ne5 20.Qg3 Re8 21.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space (Vombek-Jeric, Slovakian Ch, Grize, 2001).

10...Re8!?

• 10...d5 11.Nc5 Bg4 12.f3 d4 13.Ne2 Bc8 14.Nb3 Qb6 15.Nf4 e5 16.Nd3 Ne8 17.c3 Nd6 18.cxd4 Nb5 19.Be3 Nbxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.f4 exf4 22.Nxf4 Qd6 is equal

11.Nd5

• If 11.Bf4 Ng4 12.Qd2 Qb6 13.Nd5 then:
• 13...Bxd5 14.exd5 Bxb2 15.dxc6 Qxc6 16.Rad1 is equal.
• 13...Qd8 14.c3 Nge5 15.Be2 Bg4 16.Bxg4 Nxg4 17.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space.

11...Bxd5?!

• Black seems to be playing for a win. She makes a risky move that in the end does not pay off.
• If 11...Ne5 then:
• 12.Bf4 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bd7 14.c3 Qc7 is equal
• 12.f4 Nxd5 13.exd5 Ng4 14.c3 Qb6+ 15.Nd4 Bxd5 gives Black an extra pawn.

12.exd5 Nb4 13.c4 Qd7

• 13...b5?! is an attempt to exchange a unimportant pawn for a central pawn, but after 14.a3! bxc4 15.axb4 cxb3 16.Bb5 Rf8 17.Qxb3 White is better.

14.a3 Na6 15.Be3 Nc7 16.Rc1

• White's plan is to open the c-file and use it as an avenue to invade Black's camp.
• Also good is 16.Nd4 e6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.Rc1 Rf8 19.Be2 leaving Black with a weakened pawn structure.

16...e6 17.dxe6

• 17.Bd4 exd5 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.cxd5 is equal.

17...Nxe6 18.Qf3 Qa4?!

• Black attacks and forces White to move his Knight to a better square.
• 18...Re7 19.Rcd1 Rae8 20.Be2 a6 21.Na5 Qc7 22.b4 gives White the advantage in space on the queenside.

19.Nd4 d5?

• 19...Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Qc6 21.Be2 Ne4 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Bd3 gives White a better center, but Black's game is playable.

BLACK: Elena Partac
!""""""""#
$t+ +t+l+%
$Oo+ +oVo%
$ + +mMo+%
$+ +o+ + %
$w+pN + +%
$P + Bq+ %
$ P + PpP%
$+ R RbK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Oleiny Linares
Position after 19...d6d5

20.Nxe6!

• This exchange completely ruins Black's pawn structure and sends her to her doom.

20...fxe6 21.Bd4 Qd7

• 21...Rf8 22.Rxe6 Qd7 23.Qh3 Nh5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Rxg6+ wins the Queen.

22.Bxf6 Rf8 23.cxd5!

• White opens the c-file for her Rook.
• THe text is better than 23.Qg4 Bxf6 24.Rxe6 Rad8 25.Rc2 Qa4 26.Rd2 when White's Queen's Rook is still passive.

23...Rxf6 24.dxe6 Qe7

• 24...Qd4 25.Qg3 Re8 26.b4 Qb6 27.Rc2 Kh8 28.Bc4 gives White total command of the central squares.

25.Qg3 Rf5 26.Rc7 Qf6

• 26...Qe8 might be a more stubborn defense, but Black is lost regardless of what she does.
• If 26...Qe8 27.Bd3 Rh5 28.Rxb7 then:
• 28...Rc8 29.Ba6 Bf6 30.Rxa7 Rcc5 31.Qf3 Be5 32.Ra8 wins the Queen.
• If 28...a5 then 29.e7 Bf6 30.Be2 Rf5 31.Bg4 Rc5 32.Qf4 Kg7 33.Bd7 Qf7 34.Qa4 Black must give up material for the pawn.

BLACK: Elena Partac
!""""""""#
$t+ + +l+%
$OoR + Vo%
$ + +pWo+%
$+ + +t+ %
$ + + + +%
$P + + Q %
$ P + PpP%
$+ + RbK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Oleiny Linares
Position after 26...Qe7f6

27.e7!


• The pawn now becomes the focus of the game. Black can't touch it.

27...Re8 28.Qb3+ Kh8 29.Qa4 b5


• 29...Rg8 30.e8Q Rxf2 31.Qe7 Qb6 32.Rxb7 winning is child's play.

30.Qxa7 Qxb2 31.Rd1 Qb3


• 31...Qf6 32.Rd8 Rxd8 33.exd8Q+ Qxd8 34.Rxg7 is lights out.

32.Rd8 Qf7 33.Rcc8 1-0


• If 33...Rf8 then the most effortless win is 34.Rxf8+ Bxf8 35.Qd4+ Kg8 36.e8Q.
• Mlle. Partac resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Petrenko - Chiburdanidze, Round 8, Dresden

Maia Chibudanidze, the former long-reigning women's world champion, won a gold medal for her individual performance on board 1. This was the first of four consecutive victories for Mme. Chibudanidze that propelled the Georgian women's team to the gold medal. Among her victims: reigning women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk and the phenomenal Chinese prodigy Hou Yifan.



Maia Chiburdanidze
Photo: ChessBase.com


Maia Chiburdanidze (Georgia) - Svetlana Petrenko (Moldova)
38th Olympiad (Women's Competition), Round 8/Board 1
Dresden, 21 November 2008

Open German Game: Main Line

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.h5 Bh7 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Ngf6 11.Bd2

• If 11.Bf4 e6 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...Be7 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Ne4 then:
• If 14...Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rhe1 Nf6 20.g4 then:
• 20...Rfd8 21.Be3 Bd6 22.f3 Rac8 23.c4 a5 24.a4 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Anand, IT, Linares, 2003).
• 20...Bd6 21.f3 b5 22.Nd3 Bxf4 23.Nxf4 Rfd8 draw (Mkrtchian-Chiburdanidze, N Urals Cup, Krasnoturyinsk, 2006).
• If 14...Qa5 then:
• 15.Ne5 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Rad8 17.g4 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bd6 19.f4 Bxe5 20.fxe5 Rd7 21.Rhf1 Qd8 22.a3 Qg5 23.Rd3 Rfd8 draw (Bruzón-Izoria, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 15.g4 Nxg4 16.Ne5 Ndxe5 17.dxe5 Rad8 18.Qh3 Qb4 19.Qg2 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 f5 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Bxh6 Nxh5 23.Qg6 Bf6 24.Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.Rd8+ gives White a strong initiative (Haba-Polak, Czech Ch, Karlovy Vary, 2004).
• 12...Nd5 13.Bd2 Nb4 14.Bxb4 Bxb4 15.Ne4 Qc7 16.Ne5 0-0-0 17.f4 Nf6 18.Qf3 Rhf8 19.f5 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 exf5 21.Qxf5+ Kb8 22.c3 Bd6 23.Rhe1 f6 is equal (Le Arias-Pentala, Ol Rd3, Dresden, 2008).

11...e6 12.c4

• If 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.g3 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Bd6 16.c4 c5 then:
• If 17.d5 Nf6 18.Qc2 exd5 19.cxd5 Rhe8 20.Bc3 then:
• 20...Qd7 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Nh4 Re5 23.f4 Rxh5 24.Qe2 Rxd5 25.Rxd5 Bxf4+ 26.gxf4 Qxd5 is equal (Hammer-Simutowe, Op. Reykjavik, 2008).
• 20...Ng4 21.Nh4 Be5 22.Nf5 Bxc3 23.Qxc3 Qe5 24.Qc2 Kb8 25.f4 Qe4 26.Qxe4 Rxe4 is equal (Kritz-Perelshteyn, IT, Texas Tech U, 2008).
• 17.Bc3 Nf6 18.Qe2 cxd4 19.Nxd4 a6 20.Kb1 Rd7 21.Nf3 Rhd8 22.Rc1 Qc5 23.Rh4 Nxh5 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Rxh5 f6 26.Bxe5 fxe5 27.Rxe5 is equal (Kaidanov-Feingold, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).
• If 12...Be7 then:
• If 13.Ne4 then:
• 13...Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 Nd6 19.b3 Bf6 20.g4 b5 21.Nd2 Kd7 22.Kc2 is equal (Kramnik-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).
• If 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Kb1 Qb6 15.c4 Rfd8 then:
• If 16.Ne5 c5 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Bc3 Bd4 20.Bxd4 Rxd4 21.Rxd4 Qxd4 then:
• 22.Rd1 Qc5 23.Ne4 Qf5 24.f3 Nxh5 25.g4 Nf4 26.Qd2 Qe5 gives Black more activity (Hou Yifan-Riazantsev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 22...Qf4 23.Rd3 Rc8 24.Rf3 Qg4 gives Black more freedom (Majdan-Melia, Euro ChW, Kusadasi, 2006).
• 16.Rhe1 a5 17.Ne5 c5 18.Bc3 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Bc5 20.Nxd7 Nxd7 21.Qe3 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Nf6 23.Red1 Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Rc8 gives Black more activity and freedom (Xu Yuhua-Ushenina, N Urals Cup, Krasnoturinsk, 2008).
• If 13...0-0 14.Kb1 c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 then:
• 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Be3 Na4 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.c3 Be7 21.Kc2 Bc5 22.Re1 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Nb6 is equal (Kholmov-P. H. Nielsen, IT, Azov, 1993).
• 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.Be3 Qb6 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Qd4 Rac8 20.c3 Qf5+ 21.Ka1 Rc5 is equal (Zawadzka-Houska, Mindsports, Beijing, 2008).

12...b5!?

• This pawn sacrifice has never been played before.
• If 12...Qc7 13.0-0-0 Be7 then:
• If 14.Kb1 0-0 then:
• If 15.Rhe1 then:
• If 15...Rad8 16.Nf5 exf5 17.Rxe7 Ne4 18.Nh4 Nxf2 19.Qf3 Nxd1 20.Nxf5 Qb6 then:
• 21.Qxd1 Nf6 22.Bxh6 gxh6 23.Qd2 gives White a fierce initiative which will cause Black to return material (Amonatov-Akesson, Op, Vlissingen, 2008).
• 21.b3? Nf6 22.Bxh6 Qa5 23.Re5 Qc3 24.Qxd1 gxh6 gives Black the benefit of the extra Rook (Smeets-Roos, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16.Qc2 Ng4 17.Bc3 Rfe8 18.Qe2 a5 19.Ne5 draw (Motylev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2005).
• 15...Rfe8 16.Ne5 Bd6 17.f4 Rad8 18.Qf3 c5 19.Nxd7 Rxd7 20.d5 exd5 21.Rxe8+ Nxe8 22.cxd5 Bf8 23.Bc3 is equal (Karjakin-Mchedlishvili, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).
• If 14.Rhe1 b5 15.c5 0-0 then:
• 16.Kb1 Rfd8 17.Qc2 Bf8 18.Ne2 Ng4 19.Bf4 Qb7 20.Ng3 Ndf6 21.Ne5 Rd5 22.Qe2 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 Nd7 24.f4 Nxe5 25.fxe5 Rad8 26.Ne4 Rxd4 27.Nd6 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Bxd6 is equal (Amonatov-Bareev, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• 16.Nf5 exf5 17.Rxe7 Nxc5 18.Qe2 Ncd7 19.Nh4 Qd6 20.Nxf5 Qd5 21.g4 Qxa2 22.g5 hxg5 23.Qe3 Qa1+ 24.Kc2 Qa4+ 25.Kc1 Qa1+ 26.Kc2 draw (Leko-Karpov, Rapid M, Miskolc, 2006).

13.cxb5 cxb5 14.Qxb5

• White has the advantage of the gambit pawn, but Black should equalize with correct play.

14...Bd6

• After 14...Rb8 15.Qa6 Rxb2 White maintains her extra pawn by 16.Rc1 Nb8 17.Qxa7.

15.Ne5 Qb8

• 15...0-0 16.Nc6 a6 17.Qb3 Qe8 18.Rc1 gives White greater activity.

16.Qxb8+

• 16.a4 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Qxe5+ 18.Qxe5 Nxe5 is equal.

16...Rxb8 17.Bc3

• 17.Be3 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.Rc1 Nd5 20.Bxa7 Ra8 gives Black the initiative.

17...Nd5 18.Nc4!?

• 18.Nxd7 Kxd7 19.Ne4 Rhc8 20.Nxd6 Kxd6 21.Rh3 maintains White's extra pawn with more freedom.

18...Bxg3!

• Black spoils White's pawn structure, diminishing the value of White's extra pawn. The game is equal.

19.fxg3 Ke7 20.Kd2

• If 20.Bd2 Rhc8 21.b3 N7f6 then:
• 22.Bc1 22...Ne4 23.Ba3+ Kd8 24.0-0! gives White the initiative.
• 22.Rh4 Rc6 23.Ne5 Rc7 24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 remains equal.

20...Rhc8 21.Kd3 f5!?

• Black fixes the weakling at g3.
• 21...N7f6 22.Rac1 Rc7 23.Bd2 Rc6 24.b3 remains equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze
!""""""""#
$ Tt+ + +%
$O +mL O %
$ + +o+ O%
$+ +m+o+p%
$ +nP + +%
$+ Bk+ P %
$pP + +p+%
$R + + +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Svetlana Petrenko
Position after 21...f7f5

22.Rae1!

• White can also take aim at a backward pawn. She seizes a small initiative.

22...N7f6 23.Rh4 Nxc3

• 23...Rb7 24.b3 Ne4 25.Rhxe4 fxe4+ 26.Rxe4 Rb5 is again equal.

24.bxc3 Nd5!

• Black regains the initiative by focusing on the weak pawn at c3.

25.Rc1 Rc7 26.Ne3 Nxe3

• White's initiative is spent. The game is again equal.
• 26...Rb2 27.Rc2 Rxc2 28.Nxd5+ exd5 29.Kxc2 Kf6 re-establishes equality.

27.Kxe3
BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze
!""""""""#
$ T + + +%
$O T L O %
$ + +o+ O%
$+ + +o+p%
$ + P + R%
$+ P K P %
$p+ + +p+%
$+ R + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Svetlana Petrenko
Position after 27.Kd3e3:N

27...Rb2!

• Black wins a pawn.

28.g4?!

• 28.Kf3 Rxa2 29.g4 Ra3 30.gxf5 Raxc3+ 31.Rxc3 Rxc3+ remains equal.

28...Rxg2 29.gxf5 exf5

• Black has regained the pawn poffered earlier and now has the active game.

30.a4 Kf6!?

• Hardly a fatal error, but it allows White to equalize.
• If 30...Rc4! 31.a5 Kf6 then:
• If 32.Rhh1 then Black wins a pawn after Ra4 33.Rcg1 Rg5 34.Rxg5 Kxg5.
• 32.Ra1?? Rxc3+! 33.Kf4 Rf2#.

31.d5 Ke5 32.c4!

• The game is again equal.
• If 32.Kf3 Ra2 33.Re1+ then:
• 33...Kxd5 34.Rd4+ Kc6 35.Rc4+ Kb7 36.Rxc7+ Kxc7 37.Re7+ is equal.
• 33...Kf6 34.Re6+ Kg5 35.Rc6 Rd7 is equal.

32...Ra2 33.Re1 Kd6

• 33...Rxa4 34.Kd3+ Kf6 35.Re6+ Kg5 36.d6 remains equal.

34.Kd3

• 34.Rf1 Ra3+ 35.Kd2 Rf7 36.Re1 Kc5 37.Rf4 Rxa4 gives Black an extra pawn.

34...Ra3+ 35.Kd4?

• White has just aligned her King and Rook at a distance. This sounds like a recipe for Black to skewer a Rook.
• 35.Kd2 Kc5 36.Rf4 Rxa4 37.Re6 is equal.

BLACK: Maia Chiburdanidze
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$O T + O %
$ + L + O%
$+ +p+o+p%
$p+pK + R%
$T + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Svetlana Petrenko
Position after 35.Kd3d4

35...Rxc4+!!

• The sham sacrifice is swift punishment for White's error.

36.Kxc4 Rxa4+

• Black executes the skewer, winning a second pawn in the process.

37.Kd3 Rxh4

• Black emerges from the combination two pawns to the good.

38.Rg1

• It's all over but the shouting.
• If 38.Ra1 Rxh5 39.Rxa7 g5 40.Rf7 Rh3+ then:
• 41.Kd4 Rh4+ 42.Kd3 Ke5 43.Kc3 f4 wins for Black.
• No better is 41.Kd2 f4 42.Rf5 Re3 43.Rf6+ Kxd5.

38...Rg4 39.Ra1

• Obviously, exchanging Rooks won't help.

39...Kxd5 40.Ra5+ Ke6 41.Ra6+

• Also futile is 41.Rxa7 Kf6 42.Ra6+ Kf7 43.Ke3 Kg8.

41...Kf7 42.Ke3 Kg8 0-1

• 43.Rxa7 Rg5 44.Ra8+ Kh7 gives Black three connected passers.
• Mlle. Petrenko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Efimenko - Morozevich, Round 9, Dresden

This game ended the hopes of the Russian general team for a Gold Medal.



Zahar Efimenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zahar Efimenko (Ukraine) - Alexander Morozevich (Russia)
38th Olympiad (General Competition), Round 9/Board 4
Dresden, 22 November 2008

French Game: Tarrasch Opening (Morozevich Defense)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7

• Morozevich introduced this move several years ago and became the youngest player ever to have an opening variation named for him.
• The usual move is 3...c5.

4.Bd3 c5 5.dxc5 Nf6 6.Qe2 Nc6

• If 6...0-0 7.Ngf3 a5 8.0-0 then:
• If 8...Na6 9.e5 Nd7 then:
• If 10.c3 Naxc5 11.Bc2 b6 12.Re1 Ba6 13.Qe3 f6 then:
• If 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Nb3 e5 16.Nxc5 bxc5 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.Qxg5 then:
• 18...Qe8 19.Be3 Qf7 20.Qh4 h6 21.Rad1 Rab8 22.b3 Rb6 23.f3 is equal (Kudrin-Perelshteyn, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).
• 18...Qf6 19.f3 Rae8 20.Qg3 Qf7 21.Bd2 Re6 22.Rad1 e4 23.f4 Rg6 is equal (Shen Yang-Abrahamyan, World Jr ChW, Yerevan, 2006).
• 14.b4 fxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.bxc5 Bxc5 17.Qxe5 Bxf2+ 18.Kh1 Bxe1 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.Qxe1 d4 21.Bb2 d3 22.Bd1 Qg5 23.Nf3 Rae8 24.Qf2 d2 25.Ba4 Re2 26.Qg1 Qe7 27.c4 Bb7 28.Rf1 Re1 29.Bd1 Rxf3 30.gxf3 Rxd1 White resigns (Kristjansson-Caruana, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 10.Nd4 Ndxc5 11.N2f3 Bd7 12.Be3 Nb4 13.a3 Nbxd3 14.cxd3 a4 15.Rac1 b6 16.Rc3 f5 17.Qd2 h6 18.Ne1 Qe8 draw (Satyapragyan-N. Pert, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).
• If 8...Nc6 then:
• 9.c3 Nd7 10.exd5 exd5 11.Bc2 Nxc5 12.Nb3 Re8 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bg5 Qb6 16.Bb3 d4 17.cxd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.Rad1 Bxb2 20.Qf3 Be6 21.Rb1 Qc5 22.Bxe6 Rxe6 23.Be3 Bd4 24.Rxb7 draw (Cu. Hansen-Lputian, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 9.a4 Nb4 10.Nb3 b6 11.e5 Nd7 12.c6 Nxc6 13.Nbd4 Ndxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxd4 15.Qh5 f5 16.Be3 Bc5 17.Rfe1 Bd7 18.Qd1 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Bxc5 bxc5 21.Rxe6 Qd7 22.Qe1 c4 23.Qe5 Rae8 24.Bxf5 Qf7 draw (Sadykov-Bhat, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).

7.Ngf3 Bxc5

• If 7...Nb4 then:
• If 8.Nb3 Nxd3+ 9.cxd3 a5 10.Bg5 a4 11.Nbd2 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• 13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Ne4 Bd7 15.d4 Bc6 16.Nd6+ Kf8 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.Qxe5 Qxe5+ 19.dxe5 Bxg2 20.Rg1 Bd5 21.Rg4 gives White the more active game (Korbut-Tairova, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2001).
• 13.e5 Be7 14.Rc1 Qa5 15.Qe3 b6 16.cxb6 Bd8 17.Qc5 Qxc5 18.Rxc5 Bxb6 19.Rc2 0-0 20.Rc1 Bd8 21.Rc5 Bb6 22.Rc2 Ba6 23.Ke2 Bb5 24.Rhc1 give White more freedom (Godena-Morozevich, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 8.0-0 Nxd3 9.cxd3 Bxc5 10.Nb3 Be7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Qb6 13.e5 Ng8 14.Bg3 Bd7 15.Bf4 Qa6 16.a4 Rc8 17.Nbd4 Bc5 18.Bd2 Qb6 19.Be3 White is slightly more active (Anisimov-Nepomniachtchi, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).

8.0-0 Qc7

• 8...0-0 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nb3 Be7 11.c3 a5 12.Bf4 b6 13.Rad1 Nc5 14.Bb1 Ba6 15.Qc2 g6 16.Rfe1 Qc7 17.h4 b5 18.Ng5 Nxb3 19.axb3 Bxg5 20.hxg5 Rfc8 is equal (Hoekstra-V. Gaprindashvili, Op, Philadelphia, 2001).

9.c4

• 9.c3 Bd7 10.h3 Nh5 11.Qd1 Nf4 12.exd5 Nxd3 13.dxc6 Bxc6 14.Nb3 0-0-0 15.Nxc5 Nxc1 16.Nd4 Bb5 17.Nxb5 Rxd1 18.Nxc7 Ne2+ 19.Kh2 Rxf1 20.Rxf1 Kxc7 21.g3 Rd8 22.Nb3 Rd5 is equal (Rizouk-Barsov, IT, Hampstead, 2001).

9...dxc4 10.Bxc4!?

• 10.Nxc4 e5 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Nxe3 0-0 13.Nd5 Qd6 14.Bc4 Bg4 15.Qe3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Nd4 18.Qd3 Rac8 19.Rac1 Qb4 20.b3 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Qa3 22.Re1 Rc8 gives Black the advantage in space (Estrada-Gormally, IT, Ockham, 2001).

10...Ng4!?

• Black appears to be intent on exchanging two minor pieces for a Rook and pawn on f2 or, more likely, exchanging Knights on e5.
• 10...0-0 11.Nb3 Bd6 12.Rd1 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.g3 is equal.

11.h3 h5?!

• Black sets a little trap (see next note).
• Nevertheless, this move will come back to haunt Black later.
• White has more freedom after 11...Bxf2+?! 12.Rxf2 Nxf2 13.Qxf2 a6 14.a4 0-0 15.b3.
• 11...Nge5 12.Nb3 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 gives White a little more activity.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
$t+v+l+ T%
$OoW +oO %
$ +m+o+ +%
$+ V + +o%
$ +b+p+m+%
$+ + +n+p%
$pP NqPp+%
$T B +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zahar Efimenko
Position after 11...h7h5

12.b4!?

• The pawn sacrifice allows Black more flexibility in developing the Bishop.
• 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Bd2 Nge5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Bb5+ gives White more activity.
• 12.hxg4?! hxg4 13.e5 gxf3 14.Nxf3 a6 15.Rd1 b5 gives Black the more active game.

12...Bd4?

• Accepting the pawn isn't the worst thing Black cou;d do.12...Bxb4 13.Bb2 Nf6 14.a3 Be7 15.e5 Nd5 is equal.

13.Rb1!

• Not only does this remove the Rook from attack by Black's Bishop at d4, but it fortifies the b-pawn and prepares it for advance.

13...Bd7

• After 13...a6 14.a4 Nge5 15.Rd1 Bd7 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 White has the lead in activity and the game might continue:
• 17...Na5 18.Ba2 Bc3 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Nf3 gives White domination of the center.
• 17...Nd8 18.Nxd4 Ra4 19.b6 Qc5 20.N4b3 Qxb6 21.Bb2 gives White an extra piece.

14.b5 Ne7

• If 14...Na5 then White wins a piece after 15.Bd3 Bc6 16.bxc6 Nxc6 17.Bb5.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
$t+ +l+ T%
$OoWvMoO %
$ + +o+ +%
$+p+ + +o%
$ +bVp+m+%
$+ + +n+p%
$p+ NqPp+%
$+rB +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zahar Efimenko
Position after 14...Nc6e7

15.e5!

• White closes the Bishop's best escape route; the Knight on g4 (remember him?) has nowhere to run.

15...Bb6

• If 15...Bxe5 then after 16.hxg4 Bf4 17.g5 h4 18.Bb2 h3 19.Rfc1 White is threatening 20.Bxg7! with a double attack on the Rook at h8 and the Queen.

16.Ba3 Nf5 17.Ne4 f6

• 17...Bxf2+ 18.Nxf2 Ng3 19.Qd3 Nxf1 20.Rxf1 Nxf2 21.Rxf2 gives White more freedom.

18.Nd6+ Nxd6 19.exd6 Qd8

• The Queen is forced to the back rank.

20.Bxe6 Kf8 21.Bxd7 Qxd7
BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
$t+ + L T%
$Oo+w+ O %
$ V P O +%
$+p+ + +o%
$ + + +m+%
$B + + + %
$p+ +qPp+%
$+r+ +r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zahar Efimenko
Position after 21...Qd8d7:B

22.Qe7+!

• White forces an exchange of Queens, further progress for the pawn and, just for good measure, wins the Knight at g4.

22...Qxe7 23.dxe7+ Kf7

• If 23...Ke8 24.hxg4 hxg4 25.Nd2 then:
• 25...g3 26.Ne4 gxf2+ 27.Nxf2 White is still a piece to the good.
• After 25...Rh5 26.Ne4 Bc7 (threatening perpetual check) 27.Rfd1! White remains up a piece.

24.hxg4

• White's play is so dominant that he was able to force Black to leave the Bishop en prise fo 13 moves before finally taking it.

24...hxg4 25.Nd2 g3 26.Nc4 Rh5

• If 26...gxf2+ then after 27.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 28.Kxf2 Ke6 29.Re1+ Kd7 30.Nd6 White threatens to win another pawn.
• If 26...Bd4 27.Nd6+ then:
• If 27...Ke6 28.Nxb7 then:
• After 28...gxf2+ 29.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 30.Kxf2 Rab8 31.Re1+ Kd7 32.Rd1+ Ke8 33.Nd8 Rc8 34.Nc6 Black is doomed.
• 28...Rab8 29.Rbe1+ Kd7 30.Rd1 gxf2+ 31.Rxf2 White is up a piece.
• 27...Kxe7 28.Nf5+ wins the Bishop.

27.Nxb6 axb6 28.Rb3 gxf2+

• If 28...Re8 29.f4 Rd5 30.f5 then:
• 30...Re5 31.Rxg3 Rxb5 32.Rd3 Re5 33.Rd8 wins for White.
• 30...Ra8 31.Rxg3 Rxb5 32.Rd1 Re5 33.Rd8 wins for White.

29.Kxf2 Rd5 30.Re1 Ke8 31.Rc3 Kf7 1-0

• Black's last move is deadful, but he has no defense in any event.
• If now 32.e8Q+ Rxe8 33.Rc7+ Kg6 34.Rxe8 then White has a prohibitive material advantage.
• Alexander Sergeyevich resigns without waiting for Grandmaster Efimenko to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Tokhirjanova - Goletiani, Round 10, Dresden

Rusa Goletiani
Photo: Satranc Okulu (Turkey)


Hulkar Tokhirjanova (Uzbekistan) - Rusa Goletiani (United States)
38th Olympiad (Women's Competition), Round 10/Board 3
Dresden, 23 November 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3

• This is the Polugaevsky Opening. For alternatives, see Jakovenko-Morozevich, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2008.

5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7

• If 6...Ba7 7.Qe2 Nc6 8.Be3 d6 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, Serbia, 2005).

7.Qg4

• 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, World Youth, Belfort, 2005).

7...g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0-0 Nd7 10.Na3

• 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).

10...Qc7

• 10...Ne5 11.Nc4 Nf6 12.Bd2 Nxc4 13.Bxc4 0-0 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.Bd3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Be4 Nf6 18.Ba5 Qe5 is equal (Landa-Kveinys, Belgian ChT, Belgium, 2004-05).

11.Nc4 b6 12.a4 Bb7

• 12...Ngf6 13.Bh6 Bf8 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.f4 d5 16.exd5 exd5 17.Ne5 Kg7 18.Nxd7 Bxd7 19.Qf2 Rhe8 20.Qd4 Bf5 21.Bxf5 gxf5 22.Rf3 Qd6 23.a5 bxa5 24.Nc5 Re2 25.Nd7 Qxd7 26.Rg3+ Kf8 27.Qxf6 Qe6 is equal (Durarbeyli-León Hoyos, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

13.a5

• 13.Bf4 Ngf6 14.Bh6 Bf8 15.Bxf8 Kxf8 16.f4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Rf3 Kg7 19.Raf1 is equal (Ovetchkin-Rublevsky, Russian Cup Qual, Cyberspace, 2004).

13...b5 14.Nb6 Nxb6

• 14...Rd8 15.c4 bxc4 16.Bxc4 Ngf6 17.Bh6 Nxb6 18.axb6 Qxb6 19.Na5 Bc8 20.Be3 soon brings victory to White (Rasmussen-Glud, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2007).

15.axb6 Qxb6 16.Na5 Bc8 17.c4 b4 18.Be3!?

• 18.e5 Bd7 19.Be3 Qc7 20.Bd4 f6 is equal (Vocaturo-Neimer, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

18...Qc7

• Black has an extra pawn, but White has more space and activity. The game is unclear.
• 18...Qb8?! 19.e5 d5 20.Nc6 Qb7 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Rfc1 gives White more than enough space and activity to make up for the pawn.

19.f4?!

• White grabs some space, but better is to treaten a loose pawn.
• If 19.Bd2 Rb8 20.Ra4 b3 21.Ra3 d5 22.Rxb3 then:
• 22...dxe4 23.Bxe4 Rxb3 24.Nxb3 Bd6 25.h3 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 22...Rxb3 23.Nxb3 dxe4 then:
• 24.Qxe4?! Nf6 25.Qe3 Ng4 26.Qh3 is equal.
• 24.Bxe4 transposes into the main line.

19...Bd7 20.e5 Nh6?!

• Fritz says that Black has equalized, but the Knight at this place soon becomes a liability.
• 20...dxe5 21.fxe5 f6 22.c5 Bxc5 23.exf6 Kf7 24.Kh1 give White a more active game in compensation for the pawn.

21.g4 dxe5 22.fxe5 Bc5

• White still has more freedom as long as Black's Knight is offsided and immobile.
• 22...g5 23.Bd4 Bc5 24.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 25.Rf2 then:
• 25...Ra7 26.Nb3 is equal. This game might continue 26...Qc7 27.Bc2 Ng8 28.Qe3 Ne7 when Black can finally bring her Knight around to the queenside where it have some room to breathe.
• As badly as it seems to need it, Black cannot redeploy her Bishop with 25...Ng8? because of 26.Qf3!.

23.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 24.Kh1

• White still has the advantage in mobility.
• 24.Rf2 0-0 25.Nb3 Qc7 26.Qe4 then:
• 26...Bc6 27.Qf4 Rfd8 28.Bc2 Kg7 brings Black closer to equality since her Knight now has an open route to the queenside.
• 26...Kg7 27.Qf4 Ng8 28.g5 a5 29.Be4 Ra7 is equal.

24...0-0 25.h3 Kg7!

• At last, now I'll stop being such a hard ass and say Black has equalized (and give Fritz a treat for putting up with me).

26.Qe4 Rac8

• 26...Qe7 27.Nb3 Rfc8 28.Qe3 Bc6+ remains equal.

27.Kh2 Qc7

• 27...f5 28.exf6+ Rxf6 29.Rxf6 Kxf6 30.Qf4+ Kg7 31.Nb3 Qc6 remains equal.

28.Qf4 Ng8 29.g5 Qb8?!

• 29...Bc6 30.Nxc6 Qxc6 31.b3 Qb6 32.Be4 then:
• 32...a5 33.Bg2 Rc5 34.Rad1 Qc7 35.Rd6 is equal.
• 32...h6 33.gxh6+ Nxh6 34.Qf6+ Kh7 35.Rad1 Rg8 is equal.

BLACK: Rusa Goletiani
!""""""""#
$ Wt+ Tm+%
$+ +v+oLo%
$o+ +o+o+%
$N + P P %
$ Op+ Q +%
$+ +b+ +p%
$ P + + K%
$R + +r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hulkar Tokhirjanova
Position after 29...Qc7b8

30.Nb3!

• White has the initiative. She plans to use it to exploit Black's weak queenside pawns.
• If 30.Rfd1 Bc6 31.Bf1 then:
• 31...Ba8 32.Rd6 Qa7 33.Nb3 Qb7 34.Kg3 gives Black an extra pawn, but White is more active.
• If 31...Qa7 32.Rd6 Ne7 then:
• After 33.Nxc6! Nxc6 34.Bg2 Qc5 35.Bxc6 Rxc6 36.Rxa6 Rxa6 37.Rxa6 White is more active.
• 33.Bd3?! Kg8 34.Qd4 Qxd4 35.Rxd4 Rc7 36.Kg3 Kg7 37.Rd6 is equal.

30...Rc6

• 30...Qb7 31.Ra5 Bc6 32.Rfa1 Rfd8 33.Be2 Ra8 34.Nc5 White enjoys the initiative.

31.c5

• Also good is 31.Be2 h6 32.gxh6+ Nxh6 33.c5 Nf5 34.Bf3 when White still has the initiative.

31...Qc8?!

• 31...Ne7 32.Bxa6 Nd5 33.Qg3 Rxa6 34.Rxa6 Bb5 is equal.

32.Qxb4?!

• 32.Ra5! would be a better way to exploit the dispersion of Black's pawns: 32...Qb7? fals against 33.Be4 Qc8 34.Bxc6 Bxc6 35.Rfa1.

32...Ne7 33.Be4

• 33.Qd4 Nf5 34.Bxf5 gxf5 35.Rac1 Rc7 36.Qh4 Rb7 nets Black a pawn.

33...Nd5 34.Qd4

• White's Queen is trying to keep all her central pawns overprotected, which raises the possibility that it may become overloaded.
• If 34.Qe1 Qc7 35.Qg3 Bc8 36.Rfd1 then:
• 36...Qb8 37.Ra4 Rh8 38.Rc4 Rc7 39.Bxd5 exd5 40.Rc3 maintains White's advantage.
• 36...Rh8 37.Rxd5 exd5 38.Bxd5 h6 (the Rook has nowhere to go) 39.Bxc6 Qxc6 gives White an extra pawn.
• Also good is 34.Bxd5 exd5 35.Qc3 Qc7 36.Rf6 Rb8 37.Rd6 giving WHite more freedom.

34...Kg8

• 34...Qc7 then:
• 35.Kg1 Bc8 36.Rf2 Qe7 37.Rf6 Rc7 38.Bxd5 Rd7 39.Raf1 gives White pressure on the kingside.
• If 35.Kg2?! Bc8 then:
• 36.Bxd5 exd5 37.e6+ Kg8 38.exf7+ Rxf7 is equal.
• 36.Rf3 Rd8 37.Kh1 Kg8 38.Raf1 Rd7 39.Bxd5 exd5 is equal.

35.Rfc1 Qd8 36.Qd2 Qb8 37.Bxd5!

• White does well to initiate the exchange.
• 37.Bc2? Qxe5+ 38.Kh1 f6 39.gxf6 Qxb2 40.Ra5 Qxf6 gives Black two extra pawns.

37...Qxe5+!?

• Black's plan is also to keep pieces in the center.
• Because of the inaccurate play by White that follows, this ends up giving Black two extra pawns.
• 37...exd5?! 38.Nd4 Qxe5+ 39.Kg2 Rcc8 40.Rxa6 gives White two passed pawns and more activity.

38.Kg1?

• White snatches defeat from the jaws of victory.
• This move directly cedes a pawn to Black.
• 38.Kg2 defends the h-pawn better; if 38...exd5 then after 39.Nd4 Rc7 40.Rxa6 Rb8 41.b3 White remains better.

38...exd5 39.Nd4
BLACK: Rusa Goletiani
!""""""""#
$ + + Tl+%
$+ +v+o+o%
$o+t+ +o+%
$+ PoW P %
$ + N + +%
$+ + + +p%
$ P Q + +%
$R R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hulkar Tokhirjanova
Position after 39.Nb3d4

39...Qg3+!

• Black takes advantage of White's misplay on her 38th move to win another pawn.

40.Kh1 Qxh3+

• Black now has two extra pawns.
• 41.Re1 Qxh3+ 42.Qh2 Rxc5 43.Qxh3 Bxh3 also gives Black two extra pawns.

41.Qh2 Qe3 42.Qh4

• For White, this move takes the patient from critical to terminal..
• If 42.Nxc6 Bxc6 43.Qg2 f6 then:
• 44.b4 fxg5 45.Rf1 Rxf1+ 46.Rxf1 Kg7 gives Black a material edge and more activity.
• 44.Re1 Qxc5 45.Rac1 Qd6 46.Rf1 a5 gives Black a theoreticla one-pawn advantage.

42...Rc7?!

• Black misses the opportunity to put the game away early.
• 42...Bf5 then:
• 43.Nxf5 gxf5 44.b4 Re8 45.Re1 Re4 gives Black two extra pawns, both passers.
• 43.Nxc6?? Be4+ 44.Kh2 Qe2+ 45.Kg3 Qf3+ 46.Kh2 Qg2#.

43.Rc3 Qe7 44.Re1

• Not appreciably better for White is 44.c6 Bc8 45.Re1 Qd8 46.Rf3 Re7 47.Rxe7 Qxe7.

44...Qd8 45.c6 Bc8 46.Rf3 h5

• After 46...Re7 47.Rxe7 Qxe7 48.Qf4 Re8 Black's two extra pawns continue to be an advantage.

47.Qf4 Bg4

• Perhaps stronger is 47...Re7 48.Rfe3 Rxe3 49.Rxe3 Qb6 50.b3 Qc5.

48.Rfe3

• If 48.Ra3 then after 48...f6 49.Re6 Rcf7 50.Rxf6 Rxf6 51.gxf6 Rxf6 Black remains up by two pawns./li]

48...Qc8 49.Re5

• In her haste to regain lost material, White makes White's task easier.
• Better is 49.Qd6 Qb8 50.Qe5 Rd8 51.Qf6 Rdc8 52.b3 Rf8 when Black still has two extra pawns, but has difficulty taking advantage of them.

BLACK: Rusa Goletiani
!""""""""#
$ +w+ Tl+%
$+ T +o+ %
$o+p+ +o+%
$+ +oR Po%
$ + N Qv+%
$+ + + + %
$ P + + +%
$+ + R +k%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hulkar Tokhirjanova
Position after 49.Re3e5

49...Rxc6!!

• The sacrifice is stronger than 49...Qb8 50.Qd2 Rcc8 51.b3 Rfe8 52.c7 Qa8 when Black continues to piddle about with three pawns for a piece.

50.Nxc6 Qxc6

• With an asymmetrical material balance, Black has a theoretical one-pawn advantage.

51.Qd4 Rc8

• 51...Bf3+ 52.Kg1 Qc2 53.Qf2 Qxf2+ 54.Kxf2 Be4 cuts the line of communication between White's Rooks.

52.R5e3

• This assures that the line of communication is not broken, but it further pacifies White's position.
• Black is still better after 52.Re7 Bf3+ 53.Kg1 Be4 54.Qf2 Rf8.

52...Qd7!

• The text is stronger than 52...Be6 53.b3 h4 54.R1e2 h3.

53.Re7 Bf3+ 54.Kh2 Qd6+ 55.Qe5 Qxe5+

• Also good is 55...Qb4 56.Re8+ Rxe8 57.Qxe8+ Kg7 58.Qe5+ Kh7.

56.R1xe5 Rc2+ 57.Kg3 Be4 58.Ra7

• If 58.b4 Rc3+ 59.Kh2 h4 60.Ra7 Rc2+ then:
• If 61.Kh3 Bf5+ 62.Kxh4 Rc3 63.Rxf5 Rc4+ 64.Kg3 gxf5 leaves Black two pawns up.
• After 61.Kg1 h3 there is no way to stop the h-pawn.

58...Rxb2 59.Re8+ Kg7 60.Raa8

• Any threats seen from this move are a mirage.

BLACK: Rusa Goletiani
!""""""""#
$r+ +r+ +%
$+ + +oL %
$o+ + +o+%
$+ +o+ Po%
$ + +v+ +%
$+ + + K %
$ T + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hulkar Tokhirjanova
Position after 60.Ra7a8

60...Rg2+!

• The show is over.

61.Kh3

• 61.Kh4 Rg4+ 62.Kh3 Rxg5 transposes to the text.

61...Rxg5 62.Rxa6

• After 62.Rg8+ Kf6 63.Rxa6+ Ke5 64.Re8+ Kf4 65.Rf6+ Rf5 White is out of checks.

62...Rf5 63.Rd8 g5 64.Rdd6 Rf3+ 65.Kh2

• White shortens her agony.
• If 65.Kg2 Rf6+ 66.Kh3 then:
• After 66...Rxd6 67.Rxd6 f5 Black wins.
• The main line wins faster than 66...Rf2 67.Kg3 Rg2+ 68.Kh3 g4+ 69.Kh4 Rh2+.

65...h4 66.Rd8 Rf2+ 67.Kh3 Bf5# 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Monday): Hou Yifan named Grandmaster

Hou Yifan became the youngest lady ever to earn the title of international grandmaster, a title once reserved for men, when the honor was conferred upon her by FIDE at the meeting of the federation's general assembly in Dresden in late November.



Hou Yifan
Photo: First Saturday (Hungary)

Her accomplishments this year include first place in a strong women's tournament in Istanbul in March, third place in the World Junior Championships in Turkey in July (where she played in the "boys'" event), runner-up in the women's world championship tournament in Nalchik in September and a bronze medal for individual performance on the top board at the Dresden Olympiad in November.

The young lady turns 15 next February 27. She is currently third among all women on the official rankings behind Koneru Humpy of India and Judit Polgar of Hungary.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Tuesday): Mickey Adams "apparently" withdraws from Grand Prix

The website Chessdom.com reports today that British grandmaster Mickey Adams will not participate in the next leg of the FIDE Grand Prix in Elista starting next week, speculating that Adams has withdrawn from the Grand Prix altogether.

If it is true that Adams has withdrawn, then the Cornish grandmaster joins a growing list of top ranked chess players in revolt against FIDE and its President, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, for the arrogant and high-handed manner in which the world championship cycle was modified with the cycle in progress. Grandmasters Alexei Shirov of Spain and Levon Aronian of Armenia have spoken out against the FIDE's latest action and 18-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen has withdrawn from the Grand Prix in protest.