Sports

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:31 AM

Jul 2012

Last edited Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:36 PM - Edit history (1)

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 13 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on [link:http//:imgur.com/|imgur].com.
[center]
BLACK

WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)
[/center]

I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

2. Seventh Tal Memorial Tournament, Moscow

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:39 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Final resting place of Mikhail Tal[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Unlikelylads in Wikipedia
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

3. McShane - Carlsen, Round 9

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:40 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Magnus Carlsen[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Luke McShane - Magnus Carlsen
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 9
Moscow, 18 June 2012

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Derl Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Nd7 8.b3

For notes on this opening, see the [font color="#008000"]green notes to White's fifth move[/font] in van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.
[font color="red"]8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Nc4 f6 10.Nh4[/font] transposes into [font color="#4CC417"]Kurajica-Gligoric[/font] in the link just cited.

8...0-0

If [font color="red"]8...c5 9.Bb2 Bd6 10.Nbd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10...b5 11.a4 Rb8 12.axb5 axb5 13.Ra7 0-0 14.Qe2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Hutchinson-Ashton, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
If [font color="darkred"]10...0-0 11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...b6 13.Qd2 f6 14.Nh4 Nf8 15.f4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Godena-Pashikian, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]12...f6 13.Nh4 Nf8 14.Nf5 Ne6 15.g3 Bf8 16.f4[/font] is equal (Varga-Timoshenko, Romanian ChT, Timisu de Sus, 1998).

9.Bb2 f6 10.Nc3

If [font color="red"]10.Nbd2 Nc5 11.d4 exd4 12.Nxd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Bd6 13.Qe2 Ne6 14.Qc4 Qe8 15.Nf5 b5[/font] is equal (Kasparov-Beliavsky, World Cup, Reykjavik, 1988).
[font color="darkred"]12...Re8 13.Qe2 Ne6 14.Nf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Nijboer-van der Wiel, Dutch Ch, Amsterdam, 1994).

10...Re8 (N)

[font color="red"]10...Nc5 11.Ne2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Re8 12.Nd2 Ne6[/font] draw (Frolov-Magerramov, Op, Groningen, 1993).
[font color="darkred"]11...Ne6 12.Nd2 c5 13.f4 exf4 14.Nxf4 Nxf4 15.Rxf4[/font] is equal (Litinskaya-Xie Jun, OlW, Moscow, 1994).

11.Kh1

White has a slight lead in development, but that should even out and even give Black an advantage once he completes his Knight maneuvers.

11...Nf8 12.Ne2 c5 13.Nh4 Ne6 14.Nf5 Bf8!?

Black shouldn't be too concerned about his bad Bishop. An exchange at e7 would probably be better for Black.
If [font color="red"]14...Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Nexd4 cxd4 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.c3 dxc3 18.Bxc3 Bd7[/font] gives Black a slim advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]15.Neg3 Bf8 16.Kg1 a5 17.h4 Be6 18.h5 Qd7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.Nxd4 cxd4[/font] also gives Black a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Luke McShane[/center][center]Position after 14...Be7f8[/center]

15.Ne3!

The game is equal.

15...Nd4 16.f4 Be6

[font color="red"]16...exf4 17.Nxf4 Bd6 18.Qd2 a5 19.Ne2 Be5[/font] remains equal.

17.fxe5 fxe5 18.Ng1

White will keep the f-file closed while he brings the Knight to f3.
An alternate plan bings the Knight to g3 and reinforces the Rook at f1.[font color="red"]18.Kg1 Bd6 19.Ng3 g6 20.c3 Nc6 21.Nd5 Rf8[/font] reamins equal.

18...g6 19.c3 Nc6 20.Nf3 Bg7 21.Qe1!?

Having accomplished his goal, White now makes a series of inaccurate move. The Queen would cover more pieces and the d-pawn from e2.
If [font color="red"]21.Qe2 a5 22.Qc2 Rf8 23.Rad1 Bh6 24.Bc1 Bf4[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Luke McShane[/center][center]Position after 21.Qd1e1[/center]

21...a5!

Black has a small advantage in space.

22.Rd1!?

Advancing the c-pawn would do more to immobilize Black's queenside.
If [font color="red"]22.c4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22...Nd4 23.Qg3 a4 24.Ng5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Ne2 25.Qh4 h5 26.Qf2 Qxg5 27.Qxe2 c6[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space with some addition kingside activity.
[font color="magenta"]24...axb3!? 25.axb3 Rxa1 26.Bxa1 Ne2 27.Qf3 Qxg5 28.Qxe2 Rf8[/font] gives Black a slim advantage in space.

[font color="darkred"]22...Qxd3??[/font] drops the game to [font color="red"]23.Rd1 Qxe4 24.Ng5[/font] when the Queen is trapped.

22...a4!

Black has a fair advantage in space.

23.bxa4 Rxa4?!

The more important pawn in a double complex is usually the foremost, but here the dynamic strength of the hindmost a-pawn makes it more critical.
[font color="red"]23...Bxa2 24.Qe2 Bb3 25.Ra1 Rf8[/font] continues to gives Black a fair advantage in space.

24.a3!

Having taken the pawn, Black's Rook no way to navigate the rank. Black now has only a small advantage in space.

24...Rf8 25.Bc1

If [font color="red"]25.c4 Nd4 26.Qg3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]26...Ra8! 27.Nxe5 Qd6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28.Nf3 Qxg3 29.hxg3 Nxf3 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.gxf3 Rxa3[/font] continues to give Black the advantage with a extra pawn and an active Rook.
[font color="burgundy"]28.N3g4?! Nc6! 29.Nxc6 Bxb2 30.Qxd6 cxd6 31.Ne7+ Kg7[/font] gives Black a strong initiative and an active Bishop pair.

If [font color="darkred"]26...Nxf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]27.gxf3 Re8 28.Ng4 Qg5 29.h4 Qf4 30.Kg2 Qxg3+[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]27.Rxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]27...Rf4 28.Nf5 Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]29.Nh6+ Kg7 30.Nf5+ Bxf5 31.exf5 Raxc4 32.Bxe5 Bxe5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="purple"]29.Rff1 c6 30.Rb1 Qf8 31.Rbd1 Bxf5 32.exf5 Bg7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkorange"]27...Rxf3!? 28.gxf3 Qd6 29.h4 Ra6 30.h5[/font] is equal.

25...Ra8 26.Qg3?!

This accomplishes the task of vacating e1 for the Rook should Black play 26...Bb3, but the Queen should have taken a more defensive posture at e2.
If [font color="red"]26.Qe2 Bb3 27.Rde1 Qd6 28.c4 Nd4 29.Nxd4 cxd4[/font] continues to give Black a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Luke McShane[/center][center]Position after 26.Qe1g3[/center]

26...Bb3!

White has the initiative and a huge advantage in space.

27.Rde1?

This is not such a good move now as it leave the d-pawn hanging.
Better is [font color="red"]27.Rd2 Bh6 28.Qe1 Be6 29.Rd1 Qd7 30.c4 Bg7[/font] when Black is unable to break through the center.

27...Qxd3!

White has won a pawn.

28.Ng4 Be6 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Qh4 Bf6 31.Bg5 Bxg5 32.Qxg5 Kg7?!

If [font color="red"]32...Qxc3![/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]33.Rd1 Qc4 34.Rfe1 Kg7 35.Nh4 Rae8.[/font]

33.Qc1! Rf4?!

If you wait for Lady Luck to show up, life becomes very boring --Tal.
This isn't the objectively best move and Magnus may have be aware of that when he played it. Chess games aren't won by consistantly making the objectively best moves; one must take a risk in order to create wining opportunities, or life becomes very boring.
[font color="red"]33...Rad8 34.Rf2 Qd7 35.Qg5 Ra8 36.Kg1 Rxa3[/font] continues to leave Black a pawn to the good, but White still has opportunities for counterplay.

34.Rd1?

White leaves the e-pawn unguarded.
[font color="red"]34.Ng5! Qd6 35.Rxf4 exf4 36.Rd1 Qe5 37.Nxe6+ Qxe6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and stronger pawns; White has a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Magnus Carlsen[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Luke McShane[/center][center]Position after 34.Re1d1[/center]

34...Qc4!?

The Queen is perfectly safe here and menaces White' weak pawns. The movements of White's queenside are restricted. Nevertheless, it's not quite good enough to nail down the game.
Winning immediately is [font color="red"]34...Qxe4! 35.Ng5 Qc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.Rxf4 exf4 37.Qxf4 Qxf4 38.Nxe6+ Kxh6 39.Nxf4 Rxa3[/font] leaves White winning with two extra pawns and an active Rook.
If [font color="darkred"]36.Nxe6+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]36...Qxe6 37.Rxf4 exf4.[/font]

35.Rfe1?

White protects the e-pawn, but may not be aware of the danger to his Knight.
If [font color="red"]35.h3 Raf8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36.Kh2! Qe2 37.Nf5+ Bxf5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Rfe1 Qa2 39.exf5 R4xf5 40.Ng5 Kg8 41.Rd7 Rd8[/font] leaves White with some counterplay.
If [font color="magenta"]38.Rd2?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]38...Qxe4 39.Qd1 Bc8 40.Qe1 Qf5 41.Nh4 Qg5.[/font]

[font color="darkred"]36.Ng4?[/font] drops a pawn to [font color="darkred"]36...Bxg4 37.hxg4 R8f7 38.Rf2 Rxg4.[/font]

35...Raf8! 36.Ng5 Bc8 37.g3

This could be a harikari move, or it could be a hasty move made in time pressure.
If [font color="red"]37.Ngf7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]37...R8xf7 38.Nxf7 Qxf7 39.Kg1 Bg4.[/font]

37...Rf2 38.Nf5+ gxf5 39.Nh3 Re2 40.Qg5+ Kh8 0-1

[font color="red"]41.Qh5 Qxe4+ 42.Qf3 Qxf3+ 43.Kg1 Qg2#.[/font]
Mr. McShane resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

4. Carauana - McShane, Round 6

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:42 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Fabiano Caruana[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Ted Cross( http://www.flickr.com/people/39649493@N00) from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39649493@N00/2307926939)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Fabiano Caruana - Luke McShane
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 6
Moscow, 14 June 2012

West India Game: Old Indian Defense (Two Knights' Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6

This is the Old Inidian Defense, who adherents include Dr. Tartakover, Bronstein and the great Soviet combinative specialist, Rashid Nezhmetdinov.

3.Nc3 e5

This is playable, but it is normally prededed by 3...Nd7.
If [font color="red"]3...Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5 5.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]5...c6 6.Be2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Re1 a6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.Bf1 b5 10.a3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Bb7 11.h3 Re8 12.Bg5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...h6 13.Bh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Qb8 14.Bg3 Bf8 15.b4 Qa7 16.Ra2 g6 17.Rd2[/font] gives White more freedom and space; Black is cramped (Balashov-Tukmakov, Soviet Ch, Lvov, 1984).
[font color="burgundy"]13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Ne5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.f4 Ng6 17.Bg3[/font] is equal (Lekic-Vukic, Bosnian ChT, Vogosca, 2007).

[font color="darkpink"]12...Qb8 13.Qc2 h6 14.Be3 Bf8 15.Rad1 g6 16.b4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Ribli-E. Torre, Candidates' ¼-final M, Alicante,1983).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Re8 11.b4 Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.dxe5 dxe5 13.c5 Qc7 14.Qb3 Nf8 15.Bb2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fedorowicz-García Gonzales, Cuban Ch, Havana, 1984).
[font color="magenta"]12.Qb3 exd4 13.Nxd4 Ne5 14.cxb5 cxb5 15.Nf5[/font] is equal (Fedorowicz-Costigan, Op, Philadelphia, 1986).

If [font color="darkred"]9.Rb1 Re8 10.Bf1 Qc7 11.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...b5 12.a4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...bxa4 13.Nxa4 Rb8 14.d5 c5 15.Ba3 cxb4 16.Bxb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Markos-Moran, EU Ch, Cork, Ireland, 1996).
[font color="darkorange"]12...Bf8 13.axb5 cxb5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Bf4[/font] gives White the initiative and a fair advantage in space (H. Olafsson-Tringov, Ol, Malta, 1980).

[font color="magenta"]11...exd4 12.Nxd4 Bf8 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 g6 15.f3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Bacrot-Vukic, Euro Club Cup, Izmir, Turkey, 2004).

If [font color="darkred"]a) 8.Qc2 a6 9.Rd1 Qc7 10.Bg5 Re8 11.Rac1 h6 12.Bh4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Nh7 13.Bxe7 Rxe7 14.Qd2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...Nhf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.dxe5?! dxe5! 16.b4 a5! 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4[/font] is equal (Haba-Espig, Op, Chemnitz, 1997).
[font color="burgundy"]15.c5! exd4 16.cxd6 Qxd6 17.Nxd4[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage.

[font color="darkpink"]14...Re8 15.b4 Ndf8?! 16.d5! c5 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.d6[/font] gives White the initiative and a substantuial advantage in space (Chekhov-Espig, IT, Dresden, 1985).

If [font color="magenta"]12...Nf8 13.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13...exd4 14.cxd6 Bxd6 15.Rxd4 Ng4 16.Bg3 Bxg3 17.hxg3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17...Qe7 18.Rcd1 Qc5 19.b4 Qa7 20.Bf1 Be6 21.Na4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Beliavsky-Malaniuk, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1986).
If [font color="darkorange"]17...Qa5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]18.Qd1?![/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18...Qh5?! 19.Nh4! g5 20.Nd5 cxd5 21.Rxc8 gxh4 22.Bxg4[/font] gives White better pawns, the initiative and a robust advantage in space (Topalov-Serper, IT, Gronigen, 1989).
[font color="purple"]18...Qb6! 19.Na4 Qa7 20.Qe1 a5 21.Nc3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

[font color="hotpink"]18.Na4 Ne6 19.Rd6 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Qxd8[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

[font color="darkorange"]13...dxc5 14.Bg3 cxd4 15.Bxe5 Qa5 16.Rxd4[/font] is equal (Sher-Gulko, Soviet Ch ½-final, Volgodonsk, 1983).

If [font color="darkred"]b) 8.Be3 a6 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...b5 11.Nd2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nb6 12.a4 bxa4 13.Nxa4 Nxa4 14.Rxa4 Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Ra3 a5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.f3 Nh5 17.g3 g6 18.Nc4 a4 19.Qd2[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space (Stohl-Hickl, Op, Munich, 1992).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Qb1 Ng4 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.Rc1 Bd7 19.Nc4[/font] gives White a small advantage (Arkhipov-Hickl, IT, Lippstadt, 1992).

[font color="darkpink"]15.Ra2 Qb8 16.f3 Bb5 17.Bxb5 Qxb5 18.Qb3[/font] gives White the initiative and a fair advantage (Su. Polgar-Lobron, Rpd Op, Cologne, 1989).

If [font color="magenta"]11...Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12.Rc1 Qb8 13.b4 Nb6 14.Nb3 Bd7 15.Na5 Rc8 16.Qd2 Bd8 17.f3[/font] gives White aslight advantage in space (Antic-Aronian, ZT, Yerevan, 2000).
[font color="darkorange"]12.Qb1 Qb8 13.b4 Nb6 14.Nb3 Bd7 15.Na5 Rc8 16.Rc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kozul-Aronian, Vidmar Mem, Portorosz, 1999).

If [font color="magenta"]10...Ng4 11.Bd2 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12.Ne1 Ngf6 13.Nc2[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13...Nb6 14.Nb4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14...Bb7 15.Rc1 Rc8 16.b3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...a5 17.Nc6 Bxc6 18.dxc6 b4 19.Nb5 Nxe4 20.Be3[/font] gives White a passed pawn and a small advantage in space (Radjabov-Hickl, Greek ChT, Halkidiki, 2002).
[font color="hotpink"]16...Nbd7 17.Nd3 a5 18.a3 Rxc3 19.Bxc3 Nxe4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Zakharevich-Looshnikov, Aeroflot Op B, Moscow, 2005).

[font color="purple"]14...Bd7 15.Be3 Rc8 16.a3 Nc4 17.Bc1 Qb6[/font] is equal (Stohl-Espig, Bundesliga 9495, Germany, 1995).

If [font color="darkorange"]13...Nc5 14.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14...Bd7 15.b4 Na4 16.Nxa4 bxa4 17.Na3 Qb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18.Kh1 Rc8 19.Rb1 Ne8 20.b5 axb5 21.Bxb5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Chekhov-Hickl, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1992).
[font color="burgundy"]18.Bd3 Nh5 19.Kh1 g6 20.Bc2 Qe8 21.Bh6[/font] gives White a clear advantage; Black must move his Knight to a square where it is less active inorder not to lose the exchange (Stohl-Cech, Czech ChT, Czechia, 2006).

If [font color="hotpink"]14...Nh5[/font] then:

[font color="hotpink"]15.Nb4 Bg5 16.Nc6 Qb6 17.Kh1 Bxd2 18.Qxd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gelfand-M. Gurevich, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
[font color="purple"]15.b4 Nd7 16.g3 Nb6 17.f4 Nf6 18.f5[/font] is equal (Korchnoi-Cech, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2005).

If [font color="darkorange"]12.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]12...Nb6 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]16...Qc8 17.Qb3 Kh8 18.Ra5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18...e4 19.Nd4 Bf6 20.Ne6 Re8 21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.Nxe4[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Prokopchuk-Malaniuk, Op, Koszalin, Poland, 2001).
[font color="burgundy"]18...Bd8 19.Qa2 e4 20.Nd4 Bf6 21.Nxf5 Qxf5 22.Bxg4[/font] (Pinter-Hickl, Austrian ChT 0001, Gleisdorf, 2000).

[font color="hotpink"]16...Nf6 17.Qb3 Kh8 18.Ra5 Ne4 19.Be3[/font] (Dzagnidze-Kovalevskaya, Euro Club CupW, Fügen, 2006).

[font color="purple"]12...Bb7 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 f5 15.exf5 Rxf5 16.Bd3[/font] gives White the initiative and a comfortable advantage in space (Stohl-Campora, Euro Club Cup, Izmir, 2004).

If [font color="darkorchid"]5...g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0[/font] transposes into the Main Line of the King's Indian Defense. See the notes to Black's seventh move in Gelfand-Nakamura, World ChT, Bursa, 2010.

4.Nf3 e4!?

This pawn is a clear weakness.
The usual and best move here is 4...Nbd7, transposing in [font color="red"]notes to Black's third move.[/font]

5.Nd2 Qe7?!

The Queen not well-placed here as she blocks the line of the Bishop which prevents Black from castling short.
If [font color="red"]5...Bf5 6.e3 c6 7.Be2 d5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Qb3 Qd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]9.f3 exf3 10.Nxf3 Bd6 11.Ne5 Bxe5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.0-0[/font] gives White the initiative and a slight advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Gligoric-L. Schmid, IT, Zürich, 1961).
[font color="burgundy"]9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f4 exf3 11.Nxf3 Bd6 12.Ne5 Bxe5 13.dxe5[/font] is equal (Smyslov-Bronstein, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1949).

If [font color="darkred"]8.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9.Qb3 Qd7 10.f3 exf3 11.Nxf3 Bd6 12.Ne5[/font] is equal (Korchnoi-Lisitsin, TT, Leningrad, 1967).
[font color="magenta"]9.0-0 Nc6 10.f3 exf3 11.Bxf3 Qd7 12.Nb3[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Danov-Vasiukov, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1972).

6.Nb3 Bf5 (N)

And just like that, the players are out of the book.
A round earlier, McShane played [font color="red"]6...h6[/font] and the game continued [font color="red"]7.g3 g6 8.Bg2 Bg7 9.h3 0-0 10.Be3[/font] with a fair advantage for White. The game ended in a draw after 48 moves (Tomashevsky-McShane, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2012).

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 6...Bc8f5[/center]

7.Bg5!

With development not yet complete, White has a clear positional advantage and a small advantage in space. The bane of Black's position is the Queen at e7, preventing him from easily completing development.

7...Nbd7 8.e3

Here, most engines suggest [font color="red"]8.Na5 Rb8 9.e3.[/font] My staff and I like il signore Caruana's move if only on the principle that the most important thing to do in the opening is develop pieces.

8...h6 9.Bh4 g5!?

This move weakens Black's kingside. Will his King be safe if it castles short?
Black can solve most of his problems by regrouping his pieces:
[font color="red"]9...Qd8! 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qc2[/font] gives White a fair advantage overall.

10.Bg3!

Black has a substantial advantage in space. Black pawn at e4 is weak.

10...a6

This doesn't seem like a good time for a waiting move, but what else is there?
If Black tries inagurate a pawn storm, then he is thwarted: [font color="red"]10...h5 11.h4 gxh4 12.Bxh4 a5 13.Nd2 Qe6 14.Qa4[/font] continues to give White a substantianal advantage in space.

11.Na5! Rb8 12.b4 Bg7 13.Be2 0-0

Black has completed his development, but his e-pawn is weak and his minor pieces have no scope.

14.Rb1 Bg6 15.h4

This move indicates that White intends to leave his King in the center and attack on the flanks.

15...g4

[center]BLACK: Luke McSahne[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 15...g5g4[/center]

16.h5!

White has a substantial advantage in space. He can get away with the pawn sacrifice becuase of the weakness of Black's e-pawn and the lack of coordination among Black's pieces.
Also good is Fritz' suggestion of [font color="red"]16.0-0 Nh5 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Bxg4 Nxg3 19.fxg3[/font] but White's King isn't as safe as it ought to be.

16...Bxh5 17.b5 axb5

[font color="red"]17...Qd8[/font] (setting up a masked attack against a hanging piece) [font color="red"]18.Rb3 axb5 19.Rxb5 Bg6 20.Nxb7! Qc8 21.Qb3[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.

18.Rxb5 Bg6 19.Nxb7 Rfc8

[font color="red"]19...Nb6 20.Na5 Qe6 21.0-0 Ra8 22.Qb3 h5 23.Rc1[/font] continues give White to a better center, pressure on the queenside and a substantial advantage in space.

20.Na5?!

Black discovers an attack on his own Rook.
[font color="red"]20.0-0 Nb6 21.Na5 Ra8 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Qxg4[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage in space.
[font color="blue"]20.Bxg4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Qe6 22.Qxe6 fxe6 23.Ke2 e5 24.d5[/font] gives White a significant advantage in space.

20...Ra8!

White has only a comfortable advantage.

21.Nc6 Qe8 22.a4

If [font color="red"]22.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...Nb6 23.Nb4 Rcb8 24.Nbd5 Nfxd5 25.cxd5 f5 26.a4[/font] continues to give White queenside pressure and a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]22...Ra6 23.Nb4 Ra7 24.Nc2 Nh5 25.Bh2 f5 26.Qd2[/font] gives White a better center; Black cannot break through.

22...Nf8?

Black allows White to put a vise on is position.
If [font color="red"]22...Ra6 23.Nb4 Ra7 24.Nbd5 c6 25.Nxf6+ Nxf6 26.Rb3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

[center]BLACK: Luke McSahne[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 22...Nd7f8[/center]

23.Nd5!

White's Knights cramp Black's center and queenside.

23...Nxd5 24.cxd5 f5

If [font color="red"]24...Nd7 25.Bh4 f5 26.Ne7+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]26...Kh7 27.Qc2 Nf6 28.Nxc8 Qxc8 29.Bxf6 Bxf6 30.0-0[/font] leaves White up by the exchange with an impressive advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]26...Kf8 27.Qc2 Bf6 28.Nxc8 Qxc8 29.Bg3 Be8 30.a5[/font] leaves White up by the exchange with a tremendous advantage in space.

25.a5 Bf7 26.Qc2!?

White wins after [font color="red"]26.Bc4 Ng6 27.Rb7 Ne7 28.Nxe7+ Qxe7 29.a6.[/font]

26...Ng6! 27.Bh4 Nxh4

The exchange is the only way to relieve the pressure White is putting on the dark squares.

28.Rxh4 h5 29.g3 Bf6 30.Rh1 h4!?

This is a clever little pawn sacrifice that doesn't damage Black's chances. The Black King will shuffle over to h8 and let the White pawn shield it from the White Rook.
The text is no worse than [font color="red"]30...Kh7 31.Kf1 Qf8 32.Bc4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Luke McSahne[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 30...h5h4[/center]

31.gxh4 Kh8 32.Kd2 Qg8 33.Bc4!?

White slips from a position where he was almost winning to one where he is fighting to find a winning advantage. While White's position is still very comfortable, Black has some breathing room.
If [font color="red"]33.Qa2![/font] then:

[font color="red"]33...Rf8 34.Qb3 Be8 35.Qb1 Bf7 36.Qa2 Be8 37.Qc2[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn and more space.
[font color="darkred"]33...g3 34.fxg3 Qxg3 35.Qb1 Rg8 36.Qf1[/font] gives White a second extra pawn.

33...g3!

White still has an extra pawn and a comfortable advantage in space.

34.Rg1?!

The most abvious move is to take the pawn. It's also the best.
If [font color="red"]34.fxg3 Qxg3 35.Rf1 Bxh4 36.Qd1 Bg6 37.Rb3[/font] still gives White a considerable advantage in space.

34...g2!

The game is equal.

35.Kc3 Bxh4

[font color="red"]35...Qg4 36.Rb2 Qh3 37.a6 Be8 38.Ra2 Bd7 39.a7[/font] remains equal.

36.Qe2 Qg5 37.Rb2

If [font color="red"]37.Rb3?! Rg8 38.a6 f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39.exf4 Qxf4 40.Qd2 Bg5 41.Qxf4 Bxf4[/font] gives Black the advantage.
[font color="darkred"]39.Rb7?! Qh5! 40.Qxh5+ Bxh5 41.Rb2 f3[/font] gives Black a big advantage.

37...Bh5?!

Either exhausted or short on time or both, Black finally begins his downward spiral.
If [font color="red"]37...Rg8 38.a6 f4 39.a7 f3 40.Qd2 Kg7 41.Rb7[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Luke McSahne[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 37...Bf7h5[/center]

38.Rxg2!

White has a substantial advantage in space.

38...Bxe2 39.Rxg5 Bxg5 40.Rxe2 Kg7

If [font color="red"]40...Rf8? 41.a6! f4 42.a7 fxe3 43.fxe3[/font] then:

43...Bh6 44.Rb2 Bxe3

[font color="red"]45.Rb8 Bh6 46.Ba6 Kh7 47.Rxa8 Rxa8 48.Bb7 Rxa7 49.Nxa7[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.
[font color="burgundy"]45.Ba6 Bf2 46.Rb8 Rfxb8 47.axb8Q+ Rxb8 48.Nxb8[/font]leaves White a piece to the good.

If [font color="darkred"]43...Kg7 44.Rg2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]44...Kg6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]45.Ba6 Rh8 46.Bb7 Rae8 47.Rb2 Rh1 48.Nb8.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]44...Kh6 45.Rb2 Bxe3 46.Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]46...Rfxb8[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]47.axb8Q Rxb8 48.Nxb8 Bg5 49.Bf1.[/font]
[font color="darkorange"]46...Kg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]47.Rxf8 Kxf8 48.Ba6 Bh6 49.Bb7 Rxa7 50.Nxa7.[/font]

41.a6 Rh8 42.a7 Rh1 43.Kb2 Bh4?

Black's idea is to bring the Rook to f1 or h2 and pressure the f-pawn. However, his real problem is at a7.
Better is [font color="red"]43...Rhh8![/font] (bringing one Rook back to reinforce the other in the defense against White's a-pawn) [font color="red"]44.Rc2 f4 45.exf4 Bf6 46.Kc3 Kg6 47.Re2[/font] giving Black a more stubborn defense against the a-pawn and White pawn weaknesses of his own to defend.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 43...Bg5h4[/center]

44.Rc2?

White misses the winning line.
If [font color="red"]44.Ba6! Rf1 45.Bb7 Rxa7 46.Nxa7 Rxf2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]47.Rc2!! Kg6 48.Nb5 f4 49.Rxf2 Bxf2 50.exf4[/font] leaves Black a piece to the good.
[font color="darkred"]47.Rxf2?! Bxf2 48.Kc2 Bxe3 49.Bc8 Kg6![/font] equalizes.

44...Kf6?

Black misses the saving move.
[font color="red"]44...f4! 45.exf4 Rh2 46.Kc3 Bxf2 47.Re2[/font] equalizes.

45.Ba6!

White finds the move. Black must lose a piece.

45...Kg5 46.Bb7 Rxa7 47.Nxa7

White is a piece to the good.

47...Rf1 48.Nc6 Rxf2 49.Na5?

White needs to keep the Black Rook out of e2.
[font color="red"]49.Ba6! Rf3 50.Nd8 Kg6 51.Nb7 Rf2 52.Be2[/font] blocks Black's attempt at counterplay.

49...f4!?

The pawn advance is premature. Black should bring his King to g4 first so that it will better guide the pawn to its goal.
If [font color="red"]49...Kg4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]50.Bc8 Kf3 51.Bxf5 Kxe3 52.Rxf2 Bxf2[/font] gives White only a small advantage.
[font color="darkred"]50.Nc4 Kf3 51.Kb1 Rxc2 52.Kxc2 f4 53.exf4 e3[/font] is equal; White may have to surrender the Knight in order to stop the pawn.

50.Nc4!?

This is the logical follow up to White's previous move, but it allows the game to inch closer to equality.
If [font color="red"]50.exf4+ Kxf4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]51.Rxf2+ Bxf2 52.Nb3 Bh4[/font] then Black still has chances to draw owing to his passed pawn and active King.
[font color="darkred"]51.Nb3 Rxc2+ 52.Kxc2 Kf3 53.Ba6 Be1 54.Kd1[/font] leaves White better, but not good enough.

50...Rxc2+!

White doesn't have enough to win. If he must sacrifice his extra piece to stop Black's passer, then the game is clearly drawn.

51.Kxc2 fxe3?

This simply loses a pawn when Black needs every pawn he has.
If [font color="red"]51...Kg4! 52.exf4 Kxf4 53.Na3 e3 54.Kd1 Bf6 55.Nc2[/font] leaves White with an advantage, but not nearly strong enough to win.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 51...fe3:p[/center]

52.Nxe3! Bf2 53.Kd2 Kf4 54.Nc2

The pawn is safe.

54...Kf3

If [font color="red"]54...Bh4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]55.Bc6! Bd8 56.Be8 Be7 57.Na3 Bg5 58.Bg6.[/font]

55.Ba6 Bh4

If [font color="red"]55...e3+ 56.Kd1 Bg3 57.Be2+ Ke4 58.Bh5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]58...Bh2 59.Ke2 Kxd5 60.Kd3 Bg1 61.Bf3+ Ke6 62.d5+[/font] is an easy win for White.
If [font color="darkred"]58...Kxd5 59.Nxe3+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]59...Ke4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]60.Ke2 Bf4 61.Nc2 c5 62.Bf3+.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]59...Kxd4[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]60.Nf5+ Kc3 61.Nxg3 Kd3 62.Be8[/font] White wins with correct play.

56.Be2+ Kf2 57.Bh5 Bg5+

If [font color="red"]57...Bf6 58.Kc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]58...Kg3 59.Bg6 Kf3 60.Na3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]60...Kf2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]61.Bxe4 Ke3 62.Bb1 Bxd4+ 63.Kc4.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]60...Be7[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]61.Nb5 Bd8 62.Kc4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]58...Bh8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]59.Na3 Ke1 60.Nb5.[/font]

58.Kc3 Bf6

If [font color="red"]58...Bc1[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]59.Kc4 Bd2 60.Na3 Ba5 61.Nb5 Ke3 62.Bg6.[/font]

59.Na3 Ke3 60.Nb5 Bh4 61.Nxc7 Be1+

If [font color="red"]61...Bg3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]62.Bg6 Bh4 63.Nb5.[/font]

62.Kc4 Kd2 63.Nb5 e3 64.Nxd6 e2 65.Nf7 Bf2 66.Bxe2 Kxe2 67.d6 1-0

Mr. McShane resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

5. Rajabov - Tomashevsky, Round 1

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:44 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Teimour Radjabov[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Teimour_Radjabov) (Public Doamin)
[/font]

Teimour Radjabov - Evgeny Tomashevsky
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 1
Moscow, 8 June 2012

Open Royal Game: Potter Opening (Scotch Game)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3

This is the Potter Opening, although there is no evidence that British master William Potter ever played it. Joseph Henry Blackburne made first known use of this move in a game against Rev. George MacDonnell in London, 1876.
For a more complete survey of the Open Royal Game, see Carlsen-Leko, IT Nanjing, 2009.

5...Bb6 6.Nc3 d6

If [font color="red"]6...Nf6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8...Qe7 9.Bd3 g5 10.Bg3 d5 11.0-0 Bg4[/font] is equal (Blackburne-G. MacDonnell, London, 1876).
If [font color="darkred"]8...d6 9.Qe2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9...g5 10.Bg3 Qe7 11.h4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Rg8 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.0-0-0 Be6 14.Rh6 0-0-0 15.Nd5[/font] is equal (Rublevsky-Grischuk, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]11...g4 12.h5 Nd4 13.Qd3 Nf5 14.Bf4 Bd7 15.0-0-0[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Klönne-Storm, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1990).

If [font color="magenta"]9...Be6 10.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]10...g5 11.Bg3 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12.f3 0-0-0 13.Bf2 d5 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.exd5[/font] is equal (Radulov-Matanovic, Ol, Skopje, 1972).
[font color="purple"]12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.f4 Neg4 15.Re1 Qxe2[/font] gives Black the advantage in space (Murariu-Jussupow, Eurp Ch Rd 11, Dresden, 2007).

[font color="darkorange"]10...0-0 11.f3 a5 12.Na4 Ba7 13.Qe1 Qe7 14.Kb1[/font] is equal (Murariu-Sargissian, Euro Ch Rd1, Dresden, 2007).

7.Qe2 Nge7

If [font color="red"]7...Nf6 8.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...0-0 9.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Be6 10.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Re8 11.Bxb6 axb6 12.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Bxb3 13.cxb3 Qe7 14.Bb5 Qe5 15.Kb1 Red8 16.a3[/font] is equal ()Carlsen-Naiditsch, Tal Mem Blitz Rd 36, Moscow, 2009.
[font color="burgundy"]12...Nd7 13.Bb5 Nc5 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Kb1 Nxd4 16.Qxd4[/font] is equal (Carlsen-Jakovenko, Tal Mem Blitz Rd 41, Moscow, 2009).

[font color="darkpink"]10...Nd7 11.g4 Nde5 12.Rg1 Bc4 13.Qf2 Bxf1 14.Rgxf1[/font] is equal (Nakamura-N. Kosintseva, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2010).

If [font color="darkred"]9...Bxe3+ 10.Qxe3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...a5 11.Nd4 Qe7 12.Bb5 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qe5 14.f3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Carlsen-Ponomariov, Tal Mem Blitz Rd 8, Moscow, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]10...a6 11.f3 b5 12.g4 b4 13.Ne2 Re8 14.g5[/font] gives White the initiative and a fair advantage in space (A. Muzychuk-Lahno, Grand PrixW, Rostov-on-Don, 2011).

If [font color="darkred"]8...Qe7 9.0-0-0 Be6 10.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...0-0-0 11.Bxb6 axb6 12.Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Kb8 13.Qe3 Rhe8 14.Bb5 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Nde2 Qe5 16.Qf4 Qxf4+ 17.Nxf4 Ne5 18.Bxd7 Rxd7 19.b3[/font] (Carlsen-Tkachiev, Tal Mem BLitz Rd 32, Moscow, 2009).
[font color="purple"]15.Rhe1 d5 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qd2 dxe4 18.Nxe4 c5[/font] is equal (Thorhallsson-Fressinet, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, Turkey, 2007).

[font color="darkorange"]12...Nxd4 13.Rxd4 c6 14.Qe3 d5 15.exd5 Qc5 16.Na4[/font] gives White a slight edge (P. Carlsson-Rzayev, Op, Albena, 2012).

[font color="magenta"]10...0-0 11.g4 Bxb3 12.axb3 Nb4 13.g5 Nd7 14.Bh3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Manca-Grischuk, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, Turkey, 2007).

8.Be3 0-0 9.0-0-0 f5 10.exf5!? (N)

If [font color="red"]10.f4 fxe4 11.g3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Nf5 12.Bxb6 axb6 13.Kb1 e3 14.Bg2 Kh8[/font] is equal (Negi-Maiorov, Op, Cappelle-la-Grand, 2012).
[font color="darkred"]11...Bxe3+ 12.Qxe3 Bg4 13.Be2 Nf5 14.Qxe4 Bxe2 15.Qxe2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Giri-Navara, French ChT, Belfort, 2012).

10...Bxf5!?

The game is equal.
[font color="red"]10...Nxf5 11.Bf4 Qe8 12.Qd2 Qf7 13.g3 a5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

11.h3 Bd7 12.Qd2 Bxe3

If [font color="red"]12...Be6!? 13.Bb5! Qe8 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Nd4[/font] gives White the initiative; Black has a little more space, but White has more quality space.

13.Qxe3 Kh8!?

Any check on the Black King now would be harmless. Black could make better use of his time finding better squares for his pieces.
[font color="red"]13...Qe8 14.Bc4+ Kh8 15.Rhe1 Qg6 16.Qg3 Qh6+[/font] remains equal.

14.Bd3!

White takes a slight advantage in space.
[font color="red"]14.f4 Qe8 15.Qf2 g5 16.Qd2 gxf4 17.Nd4 Ne5[/font] remains equal.

14...Qe8!?

This somewhat weakens the queenside.
If [font color="red"]14...a5 15.Bb5 Nf5 16.Qd2 Nb4 17.Bxd7 Qxd7 18.a3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

15.f4!?

White shortens the f-file, open to his opponents Rook, but fails to take action against Black' queenside.
[font color="red"]15.Rhe1! Qf7 16.f3 Rae8 17.Qf2 Kg8 18.Be4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Teimour Radjabov[/center][center]Position after 15.f2f4[/center]

15...Qf7!

White is tetering between a slight and small advantage in space.

16.Rhf1 Rae8 17.Qd2!?

White gives Black the opportunity equalize.
[font color="red"]17.Qf3![/font] (flexibly combining the need to overprotect the pawn with gaining command of the long light diagonal) [font color="red"]17...Ng6 18.Bxg6 Qxg6 19.g4 Qh6 20.Qg3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; his King should move out of the Black Queen's line of fire.

17...Nb4!

The game is equal.

18.Be4

[font color="red"]18.Kb1!? Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Qg6 20.Qd2 Nf5 21.Rfe1[/font] is equal.

18...Bc6!?

Black commits to structural damage on the queenside.
Better is [font color="red"]18...a5! 19.a3 a4 20.Na5 Na2+ 21.Kb1 Nxc3+ 22.Qxc3[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky[/center]

[center]

[/center]

[center]WHITE: Teimour Radjabov[/center][center]Position after 18...Bd7v6[/center]

19.Rde1!?

White plays the wrong Rook and lets Black off without dealing structural damage.
If [font color="red"]19.Rfe1! a5 20.a3 Na2+ 21.Nxa2 a4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22.Nc3 axb3 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.cxb3 Qxb3 25.Re2[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
If [font color="darkred"]22.Nb4 Bxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]23.Rxe4 axb3 24.cxb3 Ng6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.g3 Qxb3 27.Qd3 Qxd3 28.Rxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage.
If [font color="darkorange"]25.Ree1!? Nxf4 26.Rxe8[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]26...Qxe8 27.Re1 Qf7 28.Nd3 Nxd3+ 29.Qxd3 d5[/font] gives White only a slight advantage.
[font color="purple"]26...Rxe8!? 27.Rf1! Rf8 28.Rf3 Kg8 29.Nd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="magenta"]23.Nd4!? Nd5 24.Nxd5 Qxd5 25.g3 Qa2 26.Qc3[/font] is equal.

[font color="blue"]19.Bxc6[/font] (White deals structural damage directly) then:

[font color="blue"]19...bxc6 20.g3 Ned5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Rfe1 Nf6 23.Qg2[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkblue"]19...Nexc6!? 20.a3 Na6 21.g4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]21...Nc5 22.Nxc5 dxc5 23.Qd3 b6 24.f5 Rd8 25.Qe4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="dodgerblue"]21...b6?! 22.Qg2 Qd7 23.Qf2 Rf7 24.Rfe1 Rxe1 25.Rxe1[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.

19...Bxe4!?

Exchanging Bishops certainly puts an end to the prospect of damage to Black's queenside pawns, but there are better way to accomplish the task.
[font color="red"]19...Nbd5! 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.g4 Bxe4 22.Rxe4[/font] is equal.

20.Nxe4!

White has a small advantage in space.

[
20...Qc4 21.a3 Nbc6 22.Qc3 Qd5

The d5 square should be reserved for the Knight. The Queen becomes a target in the center.
If [font color="red"]22...Qb5 23.Qf3 Nd5 24.g3 Ne5 25.Qd1 Nc4 26.Qd3[/font] continues give White a small advantage after 27.Nc3.
[font color="darkred"]23.Qg3!? Nf5! 24.Qf2 Qb6 25.Qxb6 axb6 26.g4[/font] is equal.

23.Nbd2

White has a better center and more freedom.

23...Nf5?!

Black hangs his Queen in the center. This isn't fatal, but it's risky. Only a banker gambling with other people's money would do this.
Better is [font color="red"]23...Ng6 24.g3 a5 25.h4 h6 26.Qf3 Nge5 27.Qd1[/font] continues to gives Black a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Teimour Radjabov[/center][center]Position after 23...Ne7f5[/center]

24.g4!

White has a fair advantage in space.

24...Nfd4 25.Qd3 b5?!

Black is not going to stop an attack on his Queen this way.
[font color="red"]25...g6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]26.Kb1 a6 27.Nc3 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Qf7 29.Rf1[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space after 30.Nce4.
[font color="darkred"]26.Nc3 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Qf7 28.Rf1 d5 29.f5[/font] gives White only a fair advantage in space.

26.Kb1?!

White has a fair advantage in space, but he could have gotten much more.
[font color="red"]26.Nc3! Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Qg2 28.Nxb5 Nxb5 29.Qxb5[/font] gives White the initiative and an overwhelming advantage in space.

26...b4! 27.a4 h6!? 28.Nb3 Re7?

Black is apparently planning to double his Rooks on the e-file, but this move leaves him with too many hanging or overloaded pieces.
If [font color="red"]28...Re6 29.Re2 Re5 30.Re3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30...Re7 31.Rf2 Kg8 32.Nxd4 Qxd4 33.Qxd4 Nxd4 34.Nf6+[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space; if Black plays 34...Kf7! then White does not win a piece.
[font color="darkred"]30...Re6!? 31.f5! Re5 32.Rd1 a5 33.Nbd2 Qg8 34.Nc4[/font] gives White the initiative and a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Teimour Radjabov[/center][center]Position after 28...Re8e7[/center]

Black's Rooks are both hanging, as is the Queen. The Knight at c6 is defending the Knight at d4, the pawn at b3 and the Rook at e7.

29.Ned2!

White wins a piece.

29...Rxe1+

[font color="red"]29...Rxf4 30.Rxe7 Rxf1+ 31.Nxf1 Nxe7 32.Nxd4[/font] gives White an extra piece.
[font color="blue"]29...Rff7 30.Rxe7 Rxe7 31.Nf3 Re4 32.Rd1 Rxf4 33.Nfxd4[/font] gives White an extra piece.
[font color="#008000"]29...Rfe8 30.Rxe7 Rxe7 31.Nf3 Re4 32.Rd1 Rxf4 33.Nbxd4[/font] gives White an extra piece.

30.Rxe1 g5 31.f5 1-0

If [font color="red"]31...Kg7[/font] then White wins a piece with [font color="red"]32.Re4! a5 33.Nxd4 Nxd4 34.Rxd4.[/font]
Evgeny Yuryevich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

6. Aronian - McShane, Round 3

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:46 AM

Jul 2012

British GM Luke McShane was the key player at this year's Tal. He lost his first two games, was 3-1 with two draws in his next six games before losing to Magnus Carlsen in th final round game that decided the outcome of the tournament. His victories came at the expense of tournament favorites Aronian, Morozevich and former world champion Kramnik, virtually ending the chances of the last two for first prize and knocking the first out of an early lead. His other loss was to Caruana, who held the lead going into the last round. It seemed, at least after those first two rounds, that when there was a criticaql game to be played, Mc Shane was at the board.
[center]

Luke McShane[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Luke_McShane]
([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.enCreative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Levon Aronian - Luke McShane
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 3
Moscow, 10 June 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bg5

More common is 5.e3. See Kazhgaleyev-S. Volkov, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009.

5...dxc4

If [font color="red"]5...Ne4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]6.h4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]6...Nxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.g3 b5 9.Bg2 Bb7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.0-0 Nd7 11.e4 h6 12.Bf4 e6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Qd7 15.a4 f6 16.Bf4 g5[/font] is equal (Alverez Márquez-Groffen, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
If [font color="burgundy"]13.g4 Be7 14.a4 Nb6 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Bd6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Dreev-Malakhov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]10.a4 Nd7 11.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...h6 12.Bf4 e6 13.Qd2 Be7 14.Rfb1 0-0[/font] gives Black a slight advantage as he can open up with ...c6c5 (Tukmakov-Velicka, Op, Basel, 2000).
[font color="magenta"]11...f6 12.Bf4 Nb6 13.Qb1 e6 14.e4 Be7 15.Nd2[/font] is equal (V. Filippov-Burmakin, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]8.e4 b5 9.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...Be6 10.f4 g6 11.h5 Rg8 12.hxg6 hxg6[/font] is equal (Rogers-Engqvist, IT, Gausdal, 1995).
[font color="magenta"]9...Nd7 10.Nxc6 Qc7 11.d5 Bb7 12.Nd4 Rc8 13.Qc2 e6 14.Be2 Bd6 15.0-0[/font] draw (Mamedyarov-Fontaine, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]6...h6 7.Bf4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9.e3 e6 10.Ne5 Nd7 11.g4 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Be4[/font] is equal (Locci-Ingason, Op, Reyjavik, 2011).
If [font color="magenta"]9.a4 dxc4 10.a5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10...e6?! 11.Nd2! Be7 12.e4 Bh7 13.Qb1 Nd7 14.Nxc4[/font] gives White a commanding advantage in space (I. Radziewicz (Rajlich)-Houska, Wuro ChTW, León, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]10...Qd5 11.Nd2 c5 12.Ra4 cxd4 13.Nxc4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]6.Bf4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 dxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.g3 b5 9.Bg2 Bb7 10.Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...f6 11.Nxc4 g5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Be3 bxc4 13.Rb1 Qc7 14.h4 Nd7 15.hxg5 fxg5 16.Bxg5[/font] gives White a small advantage (Anand-Shirov, Amber Bland, Monte Carlo, 1997).
[font color="burgundy"]12.Bxb8 bxc4 13.Rb1 Rxb8 14.Rxb7 Rxb7 15.Bxc6+ Rd7[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantatage withe the pin at d7 (Rashkovsky-Rublevsky, IT, Kurgan, 1993).

[font color="darkpink"]10...Qc8 11.Rb1 Nd7 12.Nxc4 bxc4 13.0-0 e6 14.Qa4[/font] gives White a remarkable advantage in space (Shirov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2002).

[font color="magenta"]8.e4 b5 9.Ne5 Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10.Rc1 e6 11.Qh5 Qc7 12.Bg3 Qa7 13.Qg4 h5[/font] is equal (Rausis-Velicka, Op, Cairo, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]10.Bd2 Nd7 11.Nxc6 Qc7 12.Nb4 Bb7!? 13.e5 e6[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Gormally-S. Volkov, Op, Isle of Man, 2000).

6.a4 h6

If [font color="red"]6...Bf5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxc4 Nxg5 9.Nxg5 e6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10.Nf3 Nd7 11.0-0 Bd6 12.Bd3 0-0 13.Bxf5 exf5 14.d5[/font] is equal (S. Ivanov-Khalifman, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
[font color="magenta"]10.f4 Be7 11.Nge4 Bxe4 12.Nxe4 Qa5+ 13.Nc3 Nd7 14.0-0[/font] gives White a slim advantage in space (C. Ward-N. Berry, 4NCL, Sunningdale, 2008).

[font color="darkred"]7.a5 Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.e3 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Qd5[/font] is equal (S. Ivanov-V. Epishin, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).

7.Bh4!?

White has a slight advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]7.Bd2 Bf5 8.e3 e6 9.Bxc4 Bb4 10.Ne4 Bxd2+ 11.Nexd2[/font] gies White a better center (Gershon-Erdogdu, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

7...b5

Fritz gives [font color="red"]7...Be6 8.a5 b5 9.axb6 Qxb6 10.Na4 Qb5[/font] as the best continuation for Black; White continue to enjoy a slight edge.

8.axb5 cxb5 9.Nxb5

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Levon Aronian[/center][center]Position after 9.Nc3b5:p[/center]

9...axb5!!

Black turns the loss of a pawn into an exchange sacrifice.

10.Rxa8 Bb7!

Black has the initiative and a lead in development; White has the exchange for a pawn.

11.Ra1 (N)

If [font color="red"]11.Ra7!? Qb6 12.Rxb7 Qxb7 13.e3 e6 14.Bxf6 Bb4+[/font] gives Black a slight edge in space (San Segundo Carrillo-Luther, Ol, Bled, 2002).

11...g5

The game is equal.

12.Bg3 e6 13.e3 Bb4+ 14.Ke2

White's King finds himself in a very awkward spot. Black's opening strategy has been emanately succesful.
If [font color="red"]14.Nd2?[/font] then Black has a winning advantage after [font color="red"]14...Ne4! 15.Ra7 Qc8 16.f3 Nxd2 17.Kf2 Nc6[/font] when he has two minor pieces and a pawn for a Rook.

14...Nc6

It goes without saying that Black has more freedom. It's going to be a while before White develops his King's Bishop.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Levon Aronian[/center][center]Position after 14...Nb1c6[/center]

15.Ne1!

This is the best way for White to proceed. The plan is:

Clear f3 of the Knight (done);
Advance the f-pawn to f3;
Move the King to f2:
The King may proceed at its leisure to g1, preferably after the King's Rook moves;
The Bishop may now develop to e2;

Meanwhile, the Knight can go to c2 and pester Black's Bishop.

[font color="red"]15.Ne5 Na5 16.f3 Nb3 17.Kf2 0-0 18.Ra7 Qb6[/font] is also equal.

15...Na5?!

Black may be a bit overconfident after forcing White into an awkward position.
If [font color="red"]15...Nd5![/font] then [font color="red"]16.Nc2 f5 17.Nxb4 Ndxb4 18.f3 f4[/font] remains equal.

16.Be5!

The game is still equal.
[font color="red"]16.Nc2 Be7 17.f3 g4 18.Kf2 gxf3 19.gxf3[/font] gives White a small advantage.

16...0-0

If [font color="red"]16...Be7 17.f3 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Kf2 Nd5 19.Nc2 f6 20.Bg3 f5 21.Qe2[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]18.Nc2 Nd7 19.Bg3 f5 20.h4 Nb3 21.Ra7 Qb6[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]18.h4 g4 19.Bxf6 gxf3+ 20.Nxf3 Bxf6 21.Rh3 Nb3[/font] gives Black a small advantagein space.

17.h4

If [font color="red"]17.Nc2!? Be7 18.h4 Nb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Ra3 e5 22.Na1[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]19.hxg5 Nd7 20.gxh6 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Nxa1 22.Nxa1 Be4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage; White's Bishop is still undeveloped.

17...g4 18.Nc2

The game remains equal.
If [font color="red"]18.f3 Nb3 19.Ra7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...Bc6 20.Kf2 Bd6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.fxg4 e5[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]19...Bd5!? 20.Kf2 Bd6 21.Ra6 gxf3 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Nxf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

18...Be7 19.Ke1 Nb3!?

Black lets Black's Rook have more scope.
[font color="red"]19...h5 20.f3 Nb3 21.Ra7 Qb6 22.Ra2 Nd7 23.Bg3[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Levon Aronian[/center][center]Position after 19...Na5b3[/center]

20.Ra2!?

White had many ways to improve his position before removing the Rook from attack.
If [font color="red"]20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Qxg4+ Kh8 22.Ra7 Qb6 23.Ra2[/font] gives White stronger pawns.

20...h5!

Black has a small advantage in space.

21.Be2?!

The King has lost his castling privilege. Therefore, 21.f3 should be played in order for the King to escape the dark diagonal if he needs.
If [font color="red"]21.f3 gxf3 22.gxf3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...Ng4 23.Rg1 f5 24.Ke2 Bxh4 25.Ra7 Qb6[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]22...Nd7 23.Bg3 Kg7 24.Rg1 Kh8 25.Be2 Rg8 26.Kf1[/font] gives Whie a small advantage in space.

21...Bd6!?

Blackl continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.
[font color="red"]21...Bxg2! 22.Rg1 Bh3 23.Bf1 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 Bd6[/font] gives Black a fair advantage

22.f3?

Black will now take White's kingside apart.
If [font color="red"]22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Bxg4 hxg4 24.Qxg4+ Qg7[/font] gives Black a fair advantage after the exchange of Queens.
[font color="blue"]22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Kf1 Ne4 24.Bxg4 hxg4 25.Qxg4+ Kh7[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Levon Aronian[/center][center]Position after 22.f2f3[/center]

22...Nd5!?

Black gets a quicker win from [font color="red"]22...Bxe5! 23.dxe5 Nd5[/font] when:

If [font color="red"]24.fxg4?[/font] then:

Black wins after [font color="red"]24...Qb6 25.gxh5 Nxe3 26.Nxe3 Qxe3 27.Rh3 Qxe5.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]24.Kf2? Qb6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]25.Qe1 Rd8 26.Kg3 Nxe3 27.Nxe3 Qxe3.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]24...f5 25.fxg4 hxg4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]26.Qe1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]26...Qb8 27.Kg1 Qxe5 28.Ra7 Nc5 29.e4 Qxe4.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]26.h5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]26...Qb6! 27.h6 f4 28.Kg1 Rd8 29.Qf1 g3.[/font]
If [font color="purple"]26.Kg1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="purple"]26...Qb6 27.Kh2 Nxe3 28.Qg1 g3+ 29.Kxg3 f4+.[/font]

[font color="blue"]22...gxf3? 23.gxf3! Ng4[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]24.Ra7 Bxe5 25.dxe5 Bd5 26.Ra3 b4 27.Ra6 Nc5[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkblue"]24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Rh3 f5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]26.d5 Kh8 27.dxe6 Qxe6[/font] is equal.
[font color="dodgerblue"]26.Ra7 Rf7 27.d5 Kh7 28.dxe6 Qxe6[/font] is equal.

23.fxg4

Black is still winning.
If [font color="red"]23.Ra7 Bxe5! 24.Rxb7 Qa5+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]25.Kf1 Rd8 26.dxe5 Qa6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]27.Rb8 Rxb8 28.Kf2 Qb6 29.Qb1 Rf8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30.fxg4 Nd2 31.Qc1 Ne4+ 32.Kg1 Nf4 33.Qd1 Rd8[/font] White wins.
If [font color="darkred"]30.g3 Nc5 31.Kg2 Rd8 32.Qe1 Qb8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]33.f4 Kg7 34.Bf1 Qa8 35.Kg1 Nd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]36.Bxd3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]36...cxd3 37.Nd4 Nxe3 38.Qxe3 Qa1+ 39.Kg2 Qxb2+.[/font]
[font color="darkorange"]36.Qd2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]36...Nxb2 37.f5 c3 38.Qd4 Nc4 39.fxe6 Nd2.[/font]

[font color="magenta"]33.e4 Ne7 34.Nb4 Qxe5 35.Qc3 Rd4 36.Re1 Qd6.[/font]

[font color="burgundy"]27.Qe1 Qxb7 28.fxg4 Qc7 29.Qg3 Nd2+ 30.Kg1 Ne4[/font] wins the foremost e-pawn.

[font color="darkpink"]25.Kf2 g3+! 26.Kg1 Nxe3 27.Nxe3 Bxd4 28.Rh3 Bxe3+[/font] gives Black an extra piece.

23...Bxe5 24.dxe5 Qb6 25.Bf3 Nxe3

If [font color="red"]25...Rd8![/font] then:

[font color="red"]26.Bxd5 Rxd5 27.Qf3 Rd2 28.Qf4 Rxc2 29.Rf1 Rc1+[/font] gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook and a pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]26.Kf2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]26...Nf4! 27.Nd4 Nd3+!! 28.Kg3 Qc5 29.Kh2.[/font]

26.Nxe3 Qxe3+

If [font color="red"]26...Rd8![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]27.Kf2 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Bxf3 29.Kxf3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...Qb8 30.Rd6 Nc1 31.Raa6[/font] then:

Black wins after [font color="red"]31...Qb7+ 32.Rac6 Nd3.[/font]
If [font color="burgundy"]31.Ra1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]31...Qb7+ 32.Kf2 Nd3+.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]29...Qb7+ 30.Kf2 Qb8 31.Rd6 Nc5![/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]32.Ke2[/font] then Black wins easily after [font color="darkred"]32...hxg4 33.Nxg4 Kg7 34.Rd5 Nd3.[/font]
[font color="magenta"]32.Ra5 Ne4+ 33.Ke2 Nxd6 34.exd6 Qxd6[/font] gives Black a Queen and an extra pawn for a Rook and a minor piece.

If [font color="darkorchid"]27.Qe2??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorchid"]27...Nc1! 28.Bxb7 Nxe2 29.Kxe2 Qxb7.[/font]

27.Qe2 Qc1+ 28.Qd1 Qe3+

[font color="red"]28...Bxf3 29.gxf3 Qf4 30.g5 Nc1 31.Ra1 Nd3+[/font] continues to give Black more activity for the exchange.

29.Qe2 Qc1+

Both sides repeat moves in order to gain time on the clock.
If [font color="red"]29...Qf4?? 30.Bxb7! Nc1 31.Qe4 Qg3+ 32.Kf1[/font] is equal.

30.Qd1

It is doubtful that Aronian seriously thought McShane would agree to a tacit offer of a draw, but he has nothing else.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Levon Aronian[/center][center]Position after 30.Qe2d1[/center]

30...Bxf3!

Black will not settle for the draw. He still has a huge advantage in space.

31.gxf3

[font color="red"]31.Qxc1 Nxc1 32.Kf2 Nxa2 33.Kxf3 hxg4+[/font] leaves Black a piece to the good.

31...Qe3+

31...Qf4 is still better. See the note to Black's 28th move.

32.Qe2

[font color="red"]32.Kf1 hxg4 33.Kg2 Nd4 34.Ra3 Qxe5 35.fxg4 b4[/font] gives Black nothing more than a comfortable ending.

32...Qc1+ 33.Qd1 Qe3+?!

Black again misses the winning procedure.
If [font color="red"]33...Qf4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]34.g5 Nc1 35.Ra1 Nd3+ 36.Kf1 Nxb2 37.Qe2 Nd3[/font] wins the d-pawn and gives Black a fierce initiative.
If [font color="darkred"]34.Ra3?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]34...b4! 35.Rxb3 cxb3 36.Qd2 Qg3+ 37.Qf2 Qxe5+.[/font]

34.Qe2?

White tries to entice Black to swap Queens or settle for a draw by repetition..
If [font color="red"]34.Kf1! hxg4 35.Kg2 Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.Ra3 gxf3+ 37.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 38.Rxf3 Nxf3 39.Kxf3 Rd8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and an active Rook; White' has an active Kiing. Black is much better, but a long way for winning.
If [font color="darkred"]36.fxg4?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]36...Ne2! 37.Ra3 Nf4+ 38.Kf1 Nd3.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Levon Aronian[/center][center]Position after 34.Qd1e2[/center]

34...Qf4!

Black will have none of it; he will now win quickly.

35.Qh2

[font color="red"]35.Kf2[/font] drops two pawns to [font color="red"]35...Rd8 36.Rd1 Qh2+ 37.Ke3 Qxe5+ 38.Kf2 Qh2+.[/font]

35...Qxf3 36.Rf1 Qe4+ 37.Kf2

If [font color="red"]37.Qe2[/font] then [font color="red"]37...Qb1+[/font] wins a Rook.

37...Nd2 38.Rg1 Qf3+ 0-1

P-n Aronian resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

7. 2011/12 Women's Grand Prix, 4th Leg, Kazan

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:49 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Kazan[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Luigi Versaggi in Wikipedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Kazan)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

8. A. Muzychuk-Galliamova, Round 8

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:51 AM

Jul 2012

Last edited Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:15 PM - Edit history (1)

[center][/center]

[center]Anna Muzychuk[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Samson1964) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Anna_Muzychuk)
(Public Domian)
[/font]

Anna Muzychuk - Alisa Galliamova
Women's Grand Prix, 4th Leg Round 8
Kazan, 18 June 2012

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

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Rat Game: Scheveningen/Four Knights' Opening (Rauzer Variation)[/center][center]Position after 6...e7e3[/center]

7.Qd2 Qb6

[font color="red"]7...a6[/font] transposes into more common Rauzer Opening to the Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense. See Yu Yangyi-Negi (http://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1204&pid=13931), Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012.
More common than the text is [font color="blue"]7...Be7.[/font] See Almasi-Jobava, IT 0910, Reggio Emilia, 2009.

8.Bxf6

If [font color="red"]8.Nb3 a6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.f3 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.g4 Rd8 12.Be3 Qc7 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.g6 fxg6 16.h5 gxh5 17.Rxh5 Nf6 18.Rg5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Ne5 19.Qg2 Bf8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Be2 Nc4 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Nd4 Rb8 23.Rh1[/font] gives Black an extra pawn; White won (Tal-Mohrlock, Ol, Varna, 1962).
[font color="burgundy"]20.f4 Nc4 21.Bxc4 bxc4 22.Nd4 Rb8 23.Rg1[/font] gives White more space and a triple battery on the g-file for a pawn (Spassky-Boleslavsky, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1958).

[font color="darkpink"]18...b4 19.Na4 Rb8 20.Qh2 Ne5 21.Be2 Bf8 22.Qg1 Re8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Simagin-Paoli, IT, Salgotarjan, Hungary, 1967).

If [font color="darkred"]15.h5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15...Nce5 16.f4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Qg2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...b4 Qc7 19.Ne2 a5 20.Kb1 a4 21.Nd2 Qa6 22.Nc1 Bb7[/font] is equal (Nikolaidis-Gershon, Op, Kavala, Greece, 2003).
[font color="darkorange"]19.f5 b4 20.Ne2 exf5 21.Rhf1 Bb7 22.Rxf5 Ne5[/font] is equal (Diermair-Meszaros, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

[font color="magenta"]15...b4 16.Na4 Nc5 17.Naxc5 dxc5 18.Qe1 Rxd1+ 19.Qxd1 a5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Svidler-Xu Jun, TM, Shanghai, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]11.h4 Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.Be3 Qc7 13.Qf2 Nd7 14.g4 b5 15.Kb1 Nce5 16.g5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16...b4 17.Ne2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]17...a5 18.Nbd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...a4 19.h5 Nc5 20.Ng3 b3 21.cxb3 axb3 22.a3 Bb7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Svidler-Avrukh, Rpd IT, Haifa, 2000).
If [font color="magenta"]18...Nc5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19.Bc1?! 19...a4! 20.Ng3 Nc6 21.h5 Nxd4 22.Qxd4 b3[/font] gives Black a strong advantage on the queenside (E. L'Ami-Nijboer, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]19.h5 a4[/font] transposes into [font color="darkred"]Svidler-Avrukh,[/font] above

[font color="burgundy"]17...Nc4 18.Bc1 a5 19.h5 Bb7 20.g6 Bf6 21.gxf7+[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Ghate-A. Stojanovich, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

If [font color="magenta"]16...Rb8 17.h5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17...b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.g6 a4 20.Nbd4 Nc5 21.gxf7+[/font] gives White the initiative and Black more space (Ivanchuk-Kramnik, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1994).[
[font color="darkorange"]17...Nb6 18.g6 fxg6 19.hxg6 Nxg6 20.Qh2 Nf8 21.Bd3[/font] is equal (Medvegy-C. Balogh, 1st Saturday August, Budapest, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]12.h5 Qc7 13.h6 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14.Qf4 Ne8 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qe3 b5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.Nd4 Bb7 18.Bd3 Na5 19.Nb3 Nc6 20.f4[/font] gives White the advantage in space, especially on the kingside (Safarli-Adhiban, Op, Kolkata, 2009).
[font color="purple"]17.f4 b4 18.Na4 Rb8 19.g4 Qc7[/font] is equal (A. Mammadov-Zinchenko, Op, Baku, 2007).

[font color="darkorange"]14.Nd4 Ne8 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Qg5 b5 17.a3[/font] gives White the advantage in space, but Black has some ability to push back (Sutovsky-Gershon, Op, Amsterdam, 2001).

If [font color="blue"]8.0-0-0 Be7 9.Nb3 0-0 10.f3 Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]11.Be3 Qc7 12.Qf2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]12...d5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Rxd5 15.Rxd5 exd5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]16.g4 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]17.a3 Bf6 18.g5[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]18...Be5 19.Bd3 Rd8 20.Kb1 d4 21.Bd2 [/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Jansa-Reeh, IT, Gausdal, 1991).
[font color="#8040C0"]18...Be7 19.h4 Rc8 20.f4 d4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4[/font] is equal (Szieberth-D. Gurevich, Op, Bern, 1995).

[font color="#4080C0"]17.Kb1 Bf6 18.Bd3 Nb4 19.Bd4 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bxd4 21.Nxd4 Qf4[/font] is equal (Rogers-Kotronias, Op, Chania, Greece, 1991).

If [font color="darkblue"]16.Bb5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]16...Na5 17.Kb1 Nc4 18.Bd4 Bf5 19.g4 Bg6 20.h4 Rc8[/font] is equal (Palac-Pavasovic, Op, Nova Gorica, 1996).
If [font color="dodgerblue"]16...Bf5 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Bc5[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]18...Bxc5 19.Qxc5 Re8 20.g3 Qb6 21.Kd2[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]21...h6 22.a4 h5 23.Ra1 Qc7 24.f4 Be4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fedorowicz-Wolff, US Ch, Los Angeles, 1991).
[font color="slateblue"]21...h5 22.a4 g6 23.Qxb6 axb6 24.a5 bxa5 25.Ra1[/font] gives White a small advantage (Dr. Hübner-Piket, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1988).

[font color="darkcyan"]18...Bg5+ 19.Kb1 h5 20.g3 a5 21.Re1 a4 22.Nd4[/font] is equal (Jansa-Reeh, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

[font color="#8040C0"]13.Be2 dxe4 14.Rxd8+ Bxd8 15.fxe4 b6 16.Bf4 e5[/font] is equal (Trajkovic-Gligoric, Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1952).

If [font color="darkblue"]12...Nd7 13.Nb5 Qb8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]14.g4 a6 15.N5d4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]15...Qc7 16.h4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]16...Nce5 17.g5 b5 18.h5 Nf8[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]19.Kb1!? Nc4! 20.Bc1 Bb7 21.g6 hxg6 22.hxg6[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Papin-Stukopin, Moscow Op, 2007).
[font color="#4080C0"]19.f4?! Ng4 20.Qg3 Nxe3 21.Qxe3 e5[/font] is equal (Lein-Taimanov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Leningrad, 1955).
[font color="#8040C0"]19.Nd2! Bb7 20.h6 g6 21.Kb1[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Fritz 13).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]16...Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Ne5 18.Bg5[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]18...b5?! 19.Bxe7! Qxe7 20.f4[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]20...Qd7? 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Bxb5[/font] Black resigns (Jansa-Popovic, IT, Stary Smokovec, 1991).
[font color="slateblue"]20...Bb7 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Nb3 Bxe4 23.Bg2 Bxg2 24.Qxg2[/font] gives White a Knight for two pawns and more space.

[font color="darkcyan"]18...f6 19.Be3 d5 20.exd5 Rxd5 21.h5[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage.

[font color="#8040C0"]15...Nde5 16.g5 d5 17.exd5 exd5 18.h4 Nc4 19.Nxc6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fischer-Benko, US Ch, New York, 1959).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]14.Qg3 Nf6 15.h4 a6[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Nc3 b5 17.h5 Ne8 18.f4 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Bd3 Bf6 21.Nce2 Nb4 22.Kb1[/font] is equal (Klovans-Timoshchenko, Soviet Army Ch, Frunze, 1988).
[font color="slateblue"]19.Qf2 Rb8 20.g4 Bf6 21.Ne2 Bd7? 22.g5![/font] gives White an overwhelming advantage in space (Soviet ChT, Nabereznye Chelny, 1988).

[font color="darkcyan"]16.N5d4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Qc7 18.h5 Kh8 19.Bd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fedorowicz-R. Byrne, US Ch, New York, 1981).

If [font color="darkblue"]11.Nb5 Rd7 12.Qe1 a6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.N5d4 Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]14.Be3 Qc7 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.g4 e5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]17.Na5 Qa4 18.Kb1 Be6 19.b3 Qd7 20.g5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Efimenko-Wells, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).
[font color="#8040C0"]17.g5 Nh5 18.Na5 Qa4 19.Kb1 Be6 20.b3[/font] gives White a small advatage in space (Korneev-Wells, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]14.g4 e5 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.exf5[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]16...d5 17.Bd2 a5 18.a4[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]18...Rac8 19.Kb1 d4 20.g5 d3 21.Bxd3 Rxd3 22.gxf6 Bxf6[/font] is equal (Lahno-N. Kosintseva, Euro Club Cop W, Saint Vincent, Italy, 2005).
[font color="slateblue"]18...d4 19.g5 Nd5 20.f6 Bb4 21.Bd3 g6 22.h4 Nf4[/font] is equal (P. Smirnov-Iskusnyh, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2005).

[font color="darkcyan"]16...Nd5 17.h4 Bxg5+ 18.hxg5 Qe3+ 19.Qd2 Rac8 20.Kb1[/font] gives White the initiative and a fair advantage in space; Black's next move, exchanging Queens, is forced (Svidler-Gulko, Rpd KO, Cannes, 2001).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Be3 Qd8 14.N5d4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...a5 15.a4 e5 16.Nf5 d5[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Bc5 Qe8 19.exd5 Rxd5[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]20.Rxd5 Nxd5 21.Bb5 Bd7 22.Qd2 Ncb4 23.Bxb4 Bxb5[/font] is equal (Hamdouchi-Avrukh, Op, Athens, 2005).
[font color="steelblue"]20.Bb5 Bd7 21.Rxd5 Nxd5 22.Qe2 Ncb4 23.Bxb4 Bxb5[/font] is equal (Ghate-Krush, OlW, Torino, 2006).

[font color="slateblue"]17.Qg3 Nh5 18.Qh3 g6 19.g4 dxe4 20.Bc4 Bg5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (B. Smith-D. Gurevich, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).

[font color="darkcyan"]14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5 16.Bc3 d5 17.Bxe5 dxe4 18.Rxd7 Bxd7[/font] is equal (Dr. Hübner-Piket, Op, Lugano, 1989).

8...gxf6 9.Nb3 Bd7 10.f4 0-0-0 11.Be2

If [font color="red"]11.0-0-0 a6 12.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...h5 13.Rhf1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Kb8 14.Kb1 Be7 15.Rf3 Rdg8 16.Bf1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Rc8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Rd3 Rcd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.a3 Qc7 19.Qf2 Na5 20.Na2 Nxb3 21.Rxb3 Qc5 22.Qd2 Ka8 23.Rc3[/font] draw (Kurnosov-Bu Xiangzhi, Tussian ChT, Sagomys, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]18.Rh3 Na5 19.Qe2 Nxb3 20.axb3 Qc5 21.f5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Swiercz-Panocki, EU ChU18, Herzeg Novi, 2008).

[font color="darkpink"]17.Qe1 Nb4 18.Qd2 Nc6 19.a3 Rc7 20.Na2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Nepomniachtchi-J. Polgar, World ChT, Ningbo, 2011).

[font color="darkorchid"]16...h4 17.Qe1 Rh5 18.Rh3 f5 19.Nd5 exd5 20.exd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tiviakov-Spoelman, Bundesliga 1011, Eppingen, 2010).

If [font color="darkred"]13...Na5 14.Kb1 Nxb3 15.axb3 Bc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Bc4 Qc5 17.f5 Bh6 18.Qe2 b5 19.Bd3 Bg5[/font] is equal (Zinchenko-Krivoborodov, Moscow Op, 2007).
[font color="magenta"]16.Qd3 Qc5 17.Qh3 Kb8 18.f5 Qe5 19.Qh4[/font] is equal (Schut-A. Motoc (L'Ami), OlW, Dresden, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Rg8 13.Bh5 Rg7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Kb1 Kb8 15.Rhf1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.f5 Qe5 18.g4 Rc8 19.Qd4[/font] is equal (Ladva-Shiven, World Youth U14, Porto Carras, Greece, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Be7 16.g4 Rc8 17.h3 h6 18.Rfe1 Bf8 19.Ne2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kanovsky-Swiercz, Czech ChT, 2010).

If [font color="magenta"]14.Rhf1 Na5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15.Nxa5 Qxa5 16.f5 Qe5 17.g3 Kb8 18.Qf2 Rc8[/font] is equal (Lampert-Erdogdu, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]15.Kb1 Nc4 16.Qf2 Qxf2 17.Rxf2 Ne3 18.Rg1[/font] is equal (Korbut-Gaponenko, World ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).

11...h5 12.Rf1 (N)

If [font color="red"]12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Rhf1 Rdg8 14.Bf3 Kb8 15.Kb1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Na5 16.Qe2 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Rd3 Nc4 18.Bxh5 Rh7 19.g4 a5 20.a4 Qb4[/font] is equal (N. Kosintseva-Vojinovic, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Rd3 Rc5 19.Rfd1 h4 20.Qf2[/font] gives White a slight edge with stronger pawns (Szczepkowska Horowska-N. Kosintseva, Euro Club Cup W, Ohrid, 2009).

[font color="darkred"]15...h4 16.h3 Na5 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Qe1 Rc8 19.Rd3[/font] is equal (A. Gara-Korbut, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).

12...Ne7!?

There are other moves here that are better.
If [font color="red"]12...a6 13.g3 Na5[/font] then:

[font color="red]14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.Qd4 Be7 16.0-0-0 Kb8 17.Kb1[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]14.Qd4 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 h4 16.g4 Nc6 17.0-0-0 Bg7[/font] is equal.

[font color="blue"]12...h4 13.0-0-0 Kb8 14.Bb5 Be7 15.Qe2 Rc8 16.Kb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="#008000"]12...Be7 13.0-0-0 h4 14.Bb5 Kb8 15.Qe2 Rdg8 16.Kb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

13.0-0-0!

White has a small advantage in space.

13...Bc6

If [font color="red"]13...Nc6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.Kb1 Kb8 15.Rf3 h4 16.Qe1 Ne7 17.a4[/font] continues tyo give White a fair advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]14.Rf3!? Kb8 15.Kb1 h4 16.Qe1 Rg8 17.Bf1 Be7 18.Rh3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

14.Nd4 d5?!

Black seriously weakens her control over e5. She should have instead developed her Bishop and, at the same time, fortified her command of e5.
[font color="red"]14...Bg7 15.Nxc6 Nxc6 16.Kb1 Kb8 17.Na4 Qc7 18.Qc3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 14...d6d5[/center]

15.Nxc6!

White weakens Black's King position.

15...bxc6

If [font color="red"]15...Nxc6 16.exd5 Bb4 17.Qd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Kb8 18.a3 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 exd5 20.Qxf6 Qe3+ 21.Rd2[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]17...Bxc3 18.Qxc3 Rxd5 19.Rxd5 exd5 20.Qxf6 Re8 21.Bd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn, more freedom and a small advantage in space.

16.Na4 Qc7 17.Qc3

If [font color="red"]17.Rf3! Ng6 18.g3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...h4 19.Rb3 Kd7 20.exd5 Ke8 21.Qc3 hxg3 22.hxg3[/font] gives White an mammoth advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]18...Rd7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]19.Rb3! Kd8 20.Ba6 Ke8 21.Rb7.[/font]

17...Ng6 18.f5 Ne5 19.fxe6

If [font color="red"]19.Ba6+! Kb8 20.fxe6 fxe6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Rxf6 Re8 22.Rxf8 Rhxf8 23.Nc5 Rg8 24.g3[/font] ties down Black's position. The Black Queen cannot move off the b8/h2 diagonal, where it protects the Knight; the Rook cannot move from the e-file where it protects the pawn at e6; and if 24...dxe4? then White wins after 25.Rd4! Rg7 (25...Re7 26.Rb4+ Ka8 27.Bb7+ etc.) 26.Rb4+ Ka8 27.Bb7+ Qxb7 (27...Kb8 28.Na6#) 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Nxb7 Kxb7 30.Qxe5 when he has a Queen for a passive Rook.
[font color="darkred"]21.exd5? cxd5! 22.Qb3+ Ka8 23.Rxf6 Rb8[/font] is level.

19...fxe6 20.Rxf6 Re8 21.exd5 cxd5?

White is a pawn up and would win any King and pawn ending.
If [font color="red"]21...exd5 22.Rf5 Bd6 23.Bxh5 Ref8 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Be2[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good.

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 21...cd5:p[/center]

22.Ba6+?!

White misses a win.
If [font color="red"]22.Qh3! Rh6 23.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Kb7 24.Nb5 Qc5 25.Rxh6 Bxh6+ 26.Kb1 Bg7 27.c3.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]23...Rxf6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]24.Nxd5 Qc6 25.Nxf6 Rd8 26.Qxh5 Rxd1+ 27.Bxd1.[/font]

22...Kd8!

White still has a strong advantage, but Black has dodged a bullet.

23.Bb5!?

White does much better to preserve her Queen.
[font color="red"]23.Qe1 Bg7 24.Rf1 Rhf8 25.Kb1 Rxf1 26.Bxf1[/font] continues to give White a substntial advantage; her power in the center give her more freedom.

23...Qxc3!

Exchanging Queens cuts into White's ability to attack. White's extra pawn counts for less. Black's ideal is to exchange down to a Bishop-of-opposite color ending.
If [font color="red"]23...Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Rf2 Qxc3 25.Nxc3 Ref8 26.Re2 Rf5 27.Ba6[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and Black with more space.
If [font color="darkred"]24.Qxc7+!? Kxc7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.Rf2 Rhf8! 26.Rdf1 Bh6+ 27.Kd1[/font] when White a small advantage and nothing else.
[font color="magenta"]25.Rff1 Rb8 26.Be2 Rhg8 27.Kb1 Rb4 28.Nc5 Kd6[/font] is equal.

24.Nxc3 Bg7 25.Rff1!?

The Rook would be of more use on the second rank, where it defends pawns.
[font color="red"]25.Rf2 Ref8 26.Re2 Rf5 27.Ba6 Kd7 28.Na4[/font] continues to give White a fair addvantage.

25...Ref8!

White is cut to a small advantage.

26.Rxf8+

No better is [font color="red"]26.Rfe1 Rf2 27.Re2 Rhf8 28.Rde1 Rxe2 29.Nxe2 Ng4[/font]

26...Rxf8 27.Rf1 Bh6+!?

Black removes protection from his Knight.
[font color="red"]27...Rxf1+! 28.Bxf1 Ng4 29.Be2 Nxh2 30.Bxh5 Nf1 31.Be2[/font] leaves White with a dwindling advantage.

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 27...Bg7h6[/center]

28.Kb1!

White need not be concerned about a back rank mate. She has a small advantage.

28...Rxf1+ 29.Bxf1 Ng4 30.Be2 Nxh2 31.Bxh5 Nf1 32.a4 a5

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 32...a7a5[/center]

The final phase of the game begins. White has the advantage owing to her g-pawn, which more important to being an extra pawn is a passed pawn on the opposite wing of the board from her queenside pawn mass.
Working against White is the presence of opposite colored Bishops. If Black can exchange Knights and eliminate Black's g-pawn, then the game will most likely end in a draw.

33.Nb5

Black begins by manuevering her Knight in front of the Black pawns in order to restrain and blockade.

33...Ne3

Somewhat better is [font color="red"]33...e5[/font] (preventing 34.Nd4) [font color="red"]34.c3[/font] (restraining the d-pawn and preparing the advance b2b4) [font color="red"]34...Ne3 35.g4 Ke7 36.b4 Nc4.[/font]

34.Bf3!?

Decisions, decisions. White must choose between protecting the g-pawn, putting the Bishop on a diagonal blocked by Black's center pawns, or attacking those center pawns.
As usual, the active plan is better.
If [font color="red"]34.Nd4 Kd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35.Nb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...Nxg2 36.Be2 Kd6 37.c3 Kc7 38.Nxa5 e5 39.b4[/font] gives White the advantage, but without the g-pawn it will be a tough game to win.
[font color="magenta"]35...Nc4 36.Ka2 Bg5 37.Be2 Ne3 38.c3 Bd8 39.Nc5+[/font] gives White the advantage as she can advance the b-pawn and eliminate Black's a-pawn.

[font color="darkred"]35.g4 e5 36.Nb3 Nc4 37.c3 Ke7[/font] is a likely draw.

34...Kd7!

The Black King becomes active.
Also good is [font color="red"]34...e5! 35.c4 e4 36.Be2 Nxg2 37.cxd5[/font] makes White's task more difficult.

35.c3

The game is equal.
font color="red"]35.Nd4 Bg5 36.Be2 Bd8 37.Bb5+ Kd6 38.Nc6 Bc7 39.g3[/font] is equal.

35...e5 36.g4 Kc6 37.Ka2 Nc4!?

This doesn't do enough to restrain the advance of White's queenside pawns, an important part of any winning plan White can devise.
If [font color="red"]37...Kc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Be2 Bg5 39.Na3 Bd8[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]38.b4+?! axb4 39.cxb4+ Kxb4![/font] gives Black a substantial advantage; the a-pawn is doomed.

38.b4!

The exchange of queenside pawns is desirable for White.

[
38...Bd2?

Black would rather have White take on a5 than to take herself on b4. Nevertheless, Black should keep her on the g-pawn as long as possible.
If [font color="red"]38...Nd2 39.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]39...Kb6 40.Kb2 Bf4 41.Nd6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]41...d4 42.Nc8+ Kc7 43.Ne7 Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]44.Nf5 Kb6 45.cxd4 exd4 46.bxa5+ Kxa5 47.Nxd4[/font] is a likely draw.
[font color="darkorange"]44.Ng6 axb4 45.cxb4 e4 46.a5 d3 47.Bxd3 exd3 48.Kc3[/font] is equal and a likely draw.

[font color="magenta"]41...e4?! 42.Nf5! Nf3 43.Ne7 Bg5 44.Nxd5+[/font] improves White's winning chances considerably.

[font color="darkred"]39...axb4 40.cxb4 Ne4 41.Kb3 Bg5 42.a5 Bd2 43.a6[/font] improves White's winning chances.

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 38...Bh6d2[/center]

39.Kb3 axb4

Black is no doubt short on time and does the last thing she wanted to do.
It is doubtful that [font color="red"]39...Bg5[/font] will prove any better after [font color="red"]40.Be2 Nd2+ 41.Kc2 Ne4 42.bxa5 Nc5 43.Bf3.[/font]
If [font color="blue"]39...Bxc3??[/font] then:

White wins after [font color="blue"]40.Bxd5+! Kxd5 41.Nxc3+ Kd4 42.g5.[/font]
Also winning is [font color="darkblue"]40.Kxc3! Nb6 41.bxa5 Nxa4+ 42.Kb4.[/font]

40.cxb4

White has connected passed pawns on the queenside and still has the g-pawn that can be used to divert a Black piece if needed.

40...Bf4

If [font color="red"]40...Bg5 41.Be2 Nd2+ 42.Kc2 Ne4 43.a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Bd2 44.Kb3 Be1 45.Ka4 Bf2 46.Bd3 Nd6 47.g5[/font] continues to give White advanced passed pawns on both wings.
If [font color="darkred"]43...Be7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]44.Kb3 Bh4 45.Nc3 Nxc3 46.Kxc3 e4 47.Kb3.[/font]

41.Be2 Nd2+ 42.Kc2 Ne4

Black loses no matter how she plays.
If [font color="red"]42...Bh6 43.a5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]43...Ne4 44.Nc3 Nxc3 45.Kxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]45...e4 46.b5+ Kc5 47.a6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]47...Bg7+ 48.Kc2 Kb6 49.g5 d4 50.g6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]50...Bh8 51.Bf1 Be5 52.Bg2 d3+ 53.Kd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]53...Bf4+ 54.Kd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]54...Bh6 55.Bxe4 d2 56.Bd3 Ka7 57.Be2[/font] White wins by bringing the King forward to escort the queenside pawns home.
If [font color="darkred"]54...e3 55.Bf1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]55...Bh6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]56.Bxd3 Bg7 57.Ke2.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]55...e2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]56.Bxe2 dxe2+ 57.Kxe2.[/font]

[font color="burgundy"]53...e3+[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]54.Kxe3 Bg7 55.Be4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]50...Ka7 51.Bf1 Kb6 52.Kb2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]52...Ka7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]53.Kb3 d3 54.Kc4 d2 55.Be2.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]52...d3+[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]53.Ka2 Bd4 54.Kb3 Bg7 55.Kc4 d2 56.Be2.[/font]

[font color="burgundy"]47...d4+[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]48.Kb3 Kb6 49.Kc4 Bg7.[/font]

If [font color="darkpink"]45...Be3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkpink"]46.Bf1 Kd6.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]43...d4 44.a6 Be3 45.a7 Kb7 46.g5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]46...e4 47.Bg4 d3+ 48.Kc3 Nb1+ 49.Kb3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]49...Nd2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]50.Ka2 Nc4 51.Bc8+ Ka8 52.g6 Bh6.[/font]
If [font color="burgundy"]49...d2[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]50.g6 Bh6 51.Ka2 Nc3+ 52.Nxc3.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]46...Bxg5 47.Bg4 d3+ 48.Kxd3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]48...e4+ 49.Ke2 Nc4 50.Bc8+ Ka8 51.Bf5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]51...Nd6[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]52.Nxd6 Kxa7 53.Bxe4 Kb6 54.Kd3.[/font]
If [font color="purple"]51...Nd2[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]52.Be6 Kb7 53.Bd5+.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]48...Be3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]49.Bc8+ Ka8 50.Kxe3.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 42...Nd2e4[/center]

43.Nc3

A pawn to the good, White tries to entice Black into exchanging pieces.

43...Nf6

Black doesn't want to go quietly.
If [font color="red"]43...Nxc3 44.Kxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]44...Bh6 45.a5 e4 46.Bf1 Bf4 47.b5+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]47...Kc5 48.a6 Bb8 49.g5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]49...Be5+ 50.Kd2 Bf4+ 51.Ke2 Kb6 52.g6 Bh6 53.Ke1[/font] gives White time to bring up the King to stop Black's pawns.
If [font color="burgundy"]49...d4+[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]50.Kb3 Kb6 51.g6 Be5 52.Bg2.[/font]

If [font color="darkpink"]47...Kb7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkpink"]48.a6+ Kb6 49.Kd4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]a) 44...e4 45.a5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]45...Bg5 46.Bf1 Be7 47.b5+ Kd6 48.b6 Kc6 49.Ba6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]49...Bd8 50.Kb4 Be7+ 51.Ka4 e3 52.Bb5+ Kb7 53.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]53...Kc6 54.Be2 Bd8 55.Kb3 Kb7 56.Kc3 Be7 57.Kd4.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]53...d4[/font] then White forces mate with [font color="magenta"]54.Kb5 Bf6 55.Bf5![/font] then:

and now if [font color="magenta"]55...Ka8 56.a6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]56...e2 57.Bd7 e1Q 58.Bc6+ Kb8 59.a7+ Kc8 60.a8Q#.[/font]
If [font color="purple"]56...Kb8 57.a7+ Kb7 58.Be4+ Kc8 59.a8Q+[/font] then mates in four: [font color="purple"]59...Kd7 60.Qb7+ Ke6 61.Bf5+ Ke5 62.Qe4+ Kd6 63.Qe6#.[/font]

[font color="darkorange"]55...Kb8 56.a6 e2 57.Bd7[/font] transposes.

If [font color="burgundy"]49...Bh4[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]50.Kb3 Bg5 51.Ka4 e3 52.Kb4 Bd8 53.Bb5+ Kb7[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]45...Be3 46.Bf1 Bf4 47.Kb3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]47...Kb7 48.b5 Bg5 49.Kb4 Bd2+ 50.Kc5 Bxa5 51.Kxd5.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]47...Bg5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]48.Ka4 e3 49.b5+ Kc5 50.b6 Kc6 51.Kb4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]b) 44...Kd6 45.Bf1 Bg5 46.a5 Bd8 47.a6 Kc7 48.Kd3 Kb6 49.b5 Bg5 50.Bg2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]50...d4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]51.Ke4 Bf6 52.Bf1 Bg7 53.Kf5 Bf8 54.g5.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]50...e4+ 51.Bxe4!! dxe4+ 52.Kxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]52...Bd8 53.Ke5 Be7 54.Kf4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]54...Bc5 55.g5 Bd4 56.Kf5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]56...Bh8[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]57.Ke6 Ba1 58.Kf7 Bh8 59.g6 Ba1 60.g7 Bxg7 61.Kxg7 Kxb5 62.a7[/font] White queens on the next move.
If [font color="hotpink"]56...Kc7[/font] then White wins after [font color="hotpink"]57.Ke6 Bc3 58.Kf7.[/font]

If [font color="purple"]54...Bh4[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]55.g5 Kc7 56.Kf5 Bf2 57.g6 Bd4 58.Ke6 Kb6 59.Kf7.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]52...Kc7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]53.Kf5 Be7 54.g5 Bc5 55.Ke6 Kb6 56.Kf7.[/font]

44.a5 e4

If [font color="red"]44...Kc7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]45.Kd3 Bg5 46.b5 Bf4 47.Na4.[/font]

45.b5+ Kb7 46.Na4 d4

If [font color="red"]46...Nd7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]47.Bf1 Be3 48.Nc3 Nf6 49.b6 Nxg4 50.Nxd5.[/font]

47.Bc4 d3+

If [font color="red"]47...Kb8[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]48.a6 d3+ 49.Kc3 Nxg4 50.b6 Ne3 51.Bb5.[/font]

48.Kb3 d2 49.Be2 Nd7 50.Kc2 Bg5

No better is [font color="red"]50...Kc7 51.a6 Be3 52.Kd1 Kb8 53.Nc3 Nf6 54.b6.[/font]

51.b6 Kc6 52.Nc3 Nc5

[center]BLACK: Alisa Galliamova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Anna Muzychuk[/center][center]Position after 52...Nd7c5[/center]

53.Nxe4!!

White rounds off the game with a pretty sacrifice.

53...Nxe4 54.Bf3!

The Knight is pinned and must fall.

54...Kd5

Black shortens her agony.
[font color="red"]54...Kb7 55.Bxe4+ Ka6 56.Bd3+ Kb7 57.Be2[/font] could drag on longer.

55.Bxe4+ Kxe4 56.a6 Kf3 57.Kd1 1-0

Alisa Mikhailevna resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

9. Galliamova - Koneru, Round 11

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:53 AM

Jul 2012

[center]

Koneru Humpy
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Humpy_Koneru)
([http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Alisa Galliamova - Koneru Humpy
Women's Grand Prix, 4th Leg, Round 11
Kazan, 22 June 2012

West India Game: Benoni Defense

1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 Ne7 (N)

The ladies do not feel like a theoretical discussion today.
[font color="red"]6...g6 7.Nf3 Nf6[/font] transposes into the Tal-Indian (Modern Benoni).

7.e4 Ng6 8.f4 Be7 9.Nf3 Bf6 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 Re8

[font color="red"]11...Bg4 12.Qe1 Nd7 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxg6 Bxf3 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Rxf3[/font] is equal.

12.Nd2

[font color="red"]12.Be3 Bg4 13.Qc1 Nd7 14.a5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

12...Nd7 13.Nc4 Bd4+ 14.Be3 Nf6

With development more or less complete, White has a fair advantage in space.

15.Qf3?!

White overprotects the f-pawn, but leaves the Knight at c2 with less protection.
If [font color="red"]15.Qe1[/font] (so that if 15...Bxe3 then 16.Qxe3 simply reloads the f-pawn's protection) [font color="red"]15...Nh5 16.Bxd4 cxd4 17.Ne2 Bg4 18.g3[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage; Black has a weak pawn at d4.

[center]BLACK: Koneru Humpy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 15.Qd1f3[/center]

15...Bxc3!

Black takes the opportunity to weaken White's pawns.

16.bxc3 Nh4!

Black has a slight advantage in space.

17.Qd1 Nxe4 18.Qc2

If [font color="red"]18.Bxe4?! Rxe4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Qb3 Rb8 20.a5 Bd7 21.Rfe1 Qf6 22.Nd2 Qg6![/font] gives Black an extra pawn, a strong initiative and a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]19.Qd3?[/font] walks into a masked attack and Black wins after [font color="darkred"]19...Bf5! 20.Bf2 Rd4 21.Bxh4 Bxd3 22.Bxd8 Rxc4.[/font]

18...Nf6 19.f5?!

White tries to throw a monkey wrench at Black by disputing her coordination, but the best way to introduce chaos in one's opponent's position is to attack hanging pieces.
If [font color="red"]19.Bf2! Ng6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.f5 Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.c4 e4 23.Be2 Bxf5[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage; White is down two pawns but has a stronger passer, the Bishop pair and the move which can be used to capture the hanging c-pawn or pin the Knight to the Queen (24.Bh4).
If [font color="darkred"]20.Qd2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]20...b6 21.Rfe1 Rxe1+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Bxe1 Bb7 23.f5 Ne7 24.Bh4 Nexd5 25.Bg3 Bc6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
[font color="darkorange"]22.Rxe1?! b5! 23.Nb2 Bd7 24.Bb1 Qc8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.

[font color="magenta"]20...Nxd5?[/font] drops a piece to [font color="magenta"]21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.Qxd5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Koneru Humpy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 19.f4f5[/center]

19...Nxd5!

Black has two extra pawns and the initiative; White has a slight advantage in space.

20.Bd2!?

White lets the Black Rook command the entire e-file. It is better to keep e3 occupied and fortified.
[font color="red"]20.Qf2![/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...Nxe3 21.Nxe3 Bd7 22.Qg3 h6 23.Nc4 d5[/font] gives Black only a small advantage with two extra pawns against White's activity and space.
[font color="darkred"]20...Nxc3?! 21.Rae1! b5 22.Bg5 f6 23.Bxh4 bxc4 24.Bxc4+ d5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative

20...Bd7!

Black has a comfortable advantage in space.

21.a5?!

White's counterplay is on the kingside.
[font color="red"]21.f6 Nxf6 22.Nxd6 Re6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.Nxf7 Kxf7 24.Bc4 Ng6 25.Rae1 Qe7 26.Qe4 Rd8[/font] continues to give Black a material advantage; White is compensated with greater piece activity and the pin on e7 restricting Black's freedom to move.
[font color="darkred"]23.Rxf6?! Qxf6! 24.Rf1 Qxf1+ 25.Kxf1 Rxd6 26.Bxh7+ Kh8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.

21...Bc6?!

This is too passive.
If [font color="red"]21...Qf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22.Rab1 Bc6 23.Rf2 Nc7 24.Qd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Nb5 25.g3 Nxc3! 26.Bxc3 Qxc3 27.gxh4 Qd4[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="burgundy"]24...Rad8!? 25.Ne3! Rxe3 26.Bxe3 Nd5 27.Bd2 Nxc3[/font] continues to give Black a fair advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]22.Rac1? Nxg2!! 23.Kxg2 Qh4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]24.Rf2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]24...Bb5 25.Nxd6 Qg4+ 26.Kf1 Qh3+ 27.Kg1 Bxd3.[/font]
[font color="magenta"]24.Be1[/font] loses to [font color="magenta"]24...Qg5+ 25.Bg3 Ne3+ 26.Nxe3 Rxe3 27.Be2 h5.[[/font]

22.Rf2!

Black has only a fair advantage with two extra pawns against White's active minor pieces and slight advantage in space.

22...h6?!

This is no time for a waiting move. Black needs to play energetically.
If [font color="red"]22...b5 23.axb6 Nxb6 24.Nxb6 Qxb6 25.c4 Nxg2 26.Rxg2 Bxg2 27.Kxg2 Qc6+[/font] gives Black a Rook and three pawns for two Bishops, but some of his pawns are weak and White has plenty of opportunities for counterplay.
[font color="darkred"]25.Rb1?! Qa7 26.f6 g6 27.c4 Qd7! 28.Bg5 Qg4[/font] gives Black two extra pawns and the initiative.

[center]BLACK: Koneru Humpy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center]22..h7h6[center]Position after 22...h7h6[/center]

23.g3!

The game is equal.

23...Nf6 24.gxh4 Ng4 25.Bf4 Qxh4

Black now has three pawns for a piece.

26.Bg3 Qg5 27.Rf4!?

This is a calulated risk. With the day beginning with Sushri Koneru and two others tied for first, Alisa Mikhailevna might have thought it poor form to take an easy draw.
If [font color="red"]27.Bf4 Qh4 28.Bg3 Qg5 29.Bf4 etc.[/font] draws.

27...h5 28.h3?

Better is the more aggressive 28.h4.
If [font color="red"]28.h4 Qf6 29.Qd2 Rad8 30.Re1 d5 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8[/font] when Black has a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Koneru Humpy[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 28.h2h3[/center]

28...Ne5!

Black pulls the loose end and the knot is untied. There is no effective way to deal with the immediate threat of 29...Qxg3+.

29.Kf2

This is a way to deal with the threat, just not an effective one.

29...h4 30.Rxh4 Nxc4 31.Bxc4 Qe3+ 32.Kf1 Qxg3 33.Qf2

White simply has too many weaknesses to cover.

33...Qxc3 34.Rd1 Re3 0-1

Alisa Mikhalevna resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

10. Hou Yifan - Stefanova, Round 6

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:54 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Hou Yifan[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/karpidis/) modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2750069891/) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hou_Yifan) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Hou Yifan - Antoaneta Stefanova
Women's Grand Prix, 4th Leg, Round 6
Kazan, 16 June 2012

Italian Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense/Clam Opening (Giuoco Pianissimo)

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.Bb3 d6 6.c3 Bb6

If [font color="red"]6...0-0 7.0-0 a6 8.Nbd2 h6 9.h3 Ba7[/font] is the note to Black's seventh move in Ivanchuk-Karjakin, IT, Medias, Romania, 2011..

7.a4 (N)

If [font color="red"]7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...0-0 9.Nc4 Ng6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.h3 h6 11.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Be6 12.d4 Bxc4 13.Bxc4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Shvyrjov-Zjukin, Estonian Ch, Tallinn, 2005).
[font color="durgundy"]11...Qe7 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.d4 Be6 14.Bc2 Ra5 15.a3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Ushenina-Hoang Thi Bao Tram, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009).

[font color="darkpink"]10.Re1 c6 11.Nxb6 Qxb6 12.h3 h6 13.a4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Ye Jiangchuan-Aung Aung, TM, Yangon, Burma, 1999).

If [font color="darkred"]8...c6 9.Re1 0-0 10.h3 Ng6 11.Nf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Be6 12.Ng3 h6 13.d4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...Re8 14.Bc2 Qc7 15.Be3 Rad8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Qe2 Nf4 17.Qd2 Ng6 18.Rad1 d5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5[/font] is equal (Beliavsky-Gulko, Soviet Ch, Frunze, 1981).
[font color="purple"]16.Qd2 d5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxg6 Bxf3 19.Bc2[/font] is equal (C. Balogh-Z. Gyimesi, Hungarian ChT, Budapest, 2008).

[font color="darkorange"]13...Nh7 14.Be3 Qf6 15.Qe2 Rad8 16.Rad1 Bc8 17.Bc2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Gipslis-Dobrovolsky, IT, Bardejovske Kupele, 1991).

[font color="magenta"]11...Nh5 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Be3[/font] is equal (Chowdhury-Sundararajan, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2003).

7...a6

The game is equal.

8.Nbd2 Ba7 9.h3

[font color="red"]9.0-0 0-0 10.Nc4 h6 11.Be3 Be6 12.Bxa7 Rxa7[/font] remains equal.

9...Ne7 10.Nf1 Ng6!?

If [font color="red"]10...0-0 11.Ne3 Ng6 12.0-0 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.Qc2 d5 14.Ng5 Nf4 15.exd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...N6xd5 16.Nxd5 Qxg5 17.Nxf4 exf4 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.d4[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]15...Bxd5 16.Nxd5 N6xd5 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Nf3[/font] gives White sgtronger pawns and Black a radiant Queen.

[font color="darkred"]13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Qb3 Nf4 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.hxg4 Qe8[/font] is equal.

11.Ng3!

White fires on the f5 square and takes a small advantage in space.
Less good is [font color="red"]11.Be3!?[/font] (proffering her good Bishop) [font color="red"]11...Bxe3! 12.Nxe3 0-0 13.Qc2 h6[/font] with equality.
[font color="blue"]11.Ne3[/font] (hindering the Bishop's development) [font color="blue"]11...0-0 12.0-0 Nf4 13.Re1 Re8 14.Qc2 h6[/font] is also equal.

11...h6

[font color="red"]11...0-0 12.0-0 h6 13.Re1 Re8 14.Bd2 c6 15.d4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

12.d4 0-0 13.0-0 Nh7?!

Black may be looking for a way to exchange pieces as a method of alleviating her spatial deficit, although at this point it is by no means serious.
A better try is[font color="red"]13...exd4[/font] when:

[font color="red"]14.cxd4 d5 15.e5 Ne4 16.Bc2 Nxg3 17.fxg3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]14.Nxd4 Re8 15.Re1 Bd7 16.Be3 Qe7 17.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hou Yifan[/center][center]Position after 13...Nf6h7[/center]

14.Be3!

White has a fair advantage in space.

14...Qf6

[font color="red"]14...Ng5 15.a5 Qe7 16.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...Qf6 17.Nxg5 hxg5 18.Nh5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage is space.
[font color="darkred"]16...Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Nh4 18.Qh5 Be6 19.Ra3[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

15.Qd2!?

This move does little for White's position, but doesn't do anything to it, either.
[font color="red"]15.Nh5 Qe7 16.Re1 Ng5 17.a5 Bd7 18.Bd5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

15...Nh4?!

Black has virtually a free move, but doesn't take good advantage of it.
Better is [font color="red"]15...Nf4[/font] (putting a cork on the c1/h6 diagonal controlled by White) [font color="red"]16.Kh1 Rd8 17.Qc1 Be6 18.Bxe6 Nxe6 19.Qc2,[/font] giving White only a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hou Yifan[/center][center]Position after 15...Ng6h4[/center]

16.Nxh4!

White initiates exchanges that are much to her benefit.
If [font color="red"]16.Bd1!? Re8![/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Rc1 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Ng5 19.Bh5 g6 20.Bd1[/font] gives White only a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]17.Nxh4!? Qxh4! 18.Re1 Bd7 19.a5[/font] gives White only a slight advantage in space.

16...Qxh4 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Bxa7 Rxa7 19.Qe3

[center]BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hou Yifan[/center][center]Position after 19.Qd2e3[/center]

White uses the awkward placement of the Rook to gain a tempo; she has a comfortable advantage in space.

19...b6 20.f4

If [font color="red"]20.Rad1 Qf4 21.Qxf4 exf4 22.Nh5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...f3 23.Nf4 Ng5 24.Rfe1 fxg2 25.Kxg2 Ne6 26.Nd5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]22...g5?! 23.Rd2 Be6 24.Bd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24...Rd8 25.Rfd1 Nf8 26.Bxe6 Rxd2 27.Bxf7+ Kxf7 28.Rxd2[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="magenta"]24...Bxd5!? 25.Rxd5! Raa8 26.Rfd1 Rae8 27.f3 f5 28.exf5[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

20...exf4?!

While this isolates White's e-pawn, it also takes away Black's pawn in the center.
[font color="red"]20...Qe7 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Nf5 c5 23.Rad1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.

21.Rxf4!

White has the initiative and a comfortable advantage in space.

21...Qg5?!

This pin is easily broken. Meanwhile, Black's Queen is still subject to attack.
[font color="red"]21...Qe7 22.Raf1 Be6 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.Rxf5 Ng5 25.h4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

22.e5!

White has a substantial advantage in space and threatens 23.Ne4!, attacking the Black Queen.

22...c5?!

Black can and should challenge White for command of the g8i/a2 diagonal.
[font color="red"]22...Be6 23.h4 Qg6 24.h5 Qg5 25.Bxe6 fxe6 26.Rxf8+[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage.

23.Raf1!

White has the initiative and a giant advantage in space.

23...Be6 24.Bc2

[font color="red"]24.h4 Qg6 25.h5 Qg5 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Rxf8+ Nxf8 28.Qxg5[/font] leaves White with an active Rook and more space.

24...Re8?

The f-pawn should remain overprotected. White now comes crashing through.
If [font color="red"]24...Kh8 25.h4 Qe7 26.Nf5 Bxf5 27.Rxf5 Qe6 28.Qe4[/font] gives White a substantial advantage with more active pieces, command of the b1/h7 diagonal and the f-file, and a clear advantage in space.

25.h4!

This bayonet attack drives the Queen back to Black's camp.

25...Qe7

If [font color="red"]25...Qd8[/font] then [font color="red"]26.a5 b5 27.Nh5 g6 28.Rf6 Nxf6 29.Nxf6+[/font] could be used to win the exchange or to pressure weak points in Black's position.

26.Nh5 Kh8

Black's kingside pawns are now inadequately protected.
[font color="red"]26...g6 27.Qg3 Kh8 28.Nf6 Nxf6 29.Rxf6 Bd5 30.e6[/font] puts Black in a vise.

[center]BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hou Yifan[/center][center]Position after 26...Kg8h8[/center]

27.Nxg7!!

White sacrifices the Knight and breaks through.

27...Kxg7

If Black just concedes the loss of a pawn [font color="red"]27...Rg8[/font] then [font color="red"]28.Nxe6 fxe6 29.Rf6[/font] is crushing.

28.Rf6!!

Splashy, brilliant moves just keep coming.

28...Nxf6 29.exf6+ Qxf6

[font color="red"]29...Kg8 30.Qg3+[/font] allows White to give mate in two moves or less.

30.Qg3+ Qg6

[font color="red"]30...Kf8 31.Rxf6 Ke7 32.Rxh6[/font] leaves White with a Queen and a pawn for a Rook.

31.Bxg6 fxg6 32.Qe5+ Kg8

If [font color="red"]32...Kh7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]33.Rf6 Rae7 34.h5 Bf5 35.Qd6.[/font]

33.Qf6!?

Stronger is [font color="red"]33.Qd6 b5 34.Qxc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34...Rae7 35.axb5 axb5 36.Qxb5 Bf7 37.b4 Rc8 38.Rf3[/font] gives White a Queen and two connected passers for only a Rook and a Bishop.
If [font color="darkred"]34...Rf7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]35.Rxf7 Kxf7 36.axb5 axb5 37.Qxb5 Re7 38.b4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hou Yifan[/center][center]Position after 33.Qxxf6[/center]

33...Kh7!

Black will last a little longer now, but the outcome is decided.

34.Qe5 Rae7

[font color="red"]34...Kg8 35.Qd6 b5 36.Re1 Bf7 37.Rxe8+ Bxe8 38.Qxc5[/font] leaves White with a Queen and a pawn for a Rook and a Bishop.

35.Qd6 Bf5 36.Qxb6 c4

If [font color="red"]36...Re2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]37.h5 R8e7 38.Qxc5 R2e5 39.Qb6.[/font]

37.Qxa6 Bd3 38.Rf3 h5

If [font color="red"]38...Be2[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39.Rf6 Bd3 40.a5 Re1+ 41.Kh2 Kg7 42.h5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hou Yifan[/center][center]Position after 38...h6h5[/center]

39.Rxd3!!

The exchange sacrifice leaves White with three connected passers on the queenside and a Queen, along with those pawns, for two Rooks.

39...cxd3 40.Qxd3 Re1+

If [font color="red"]40...Ra8 41.Qb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]41...Rf8 42.Qc5 Rff7 43.a5 Rc7 44.Qa3 Rc6 45.b4[/font] gives White's queenside pawns strong protection from the rear.
If [font color="darkred"]41...Rc7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]42.a5 Raa7 43.b4 Rxc3 44.a6.[/font]

41.Kf2 R1e4 42.Kf3

White threatens to echange all the pieces, leaving her with a childishly simple win.

42...R4e5

No better is [font color="red"]42...R4e7[/font] when White wins after [font color="red"]43.a5 Rc7 44.b4 Rec8 45.Kf2 Rxc3 46.Qd7+.[/font]

43.b4 Rf5+ 44.Kg3 Rfe5

If [font color="red"]44...Re7[/font] is hopeless after [font color="red"]45.a5 Rfe5 46.Qd8 Re3+ 47.Kh2.[/font]

45.Kf2 Rf5+ 46.Kg1 Re1+

If [font color="red"]46...Rfe5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]47.b5 Re3 48.Qd5 Re1+ 49.Kh2 R8e4 50.Qf7+.[/font]

47.Kh2 Rfe5

If [font color="red"]47...Re7 48.a5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]48...Rf4 49.a6 Rxh4+ 50.Kg1 Re1+ 51.Kf2 Rhh1 52.Qd7+[/font] gives White time to advance the pawn closer.
If [font color="darkred"]48...Rff7 49.b5 Rf4 50.b6 Rxh4+ 51.Kg1 Rf4 52.a6 Re1+ 53.Kh2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]53...Rh4+[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]54.Kg3 Rhe4 55.Kf2 Re8 56.a7 R1e7 57.Qf3.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]53...Ra1[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]54.b7 Rf8 55.Qd6 Rg8 56.Qe7+ Kh6 57.Qe3+ g5 58.a7.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]51...Ra4[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]52.a6 Ra1+ 53.Kh2 Ree1 54.b7.[/font]

48.a5 R5e4 49.Qd7+ Re7 50.Qd8 g5

If [font color="red"]50...Re8 51.Qf6 R8e6 52.Qf7+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]52...Kh6 53.b5 R1e4 54.Kh3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]54...Re3+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]55.g3 Re1 56.a6 Rh1+ 57.Kg2 Rhe1 58.Qf4+.[/font]
If[font color="magenta"]54...R6e5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]55.b6 Rxa5 56.b7 Rb5 57.Qf8+ Kh7 58.b8Q.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]52...Kh8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]53.b5 R6e5 54.b6 Rxa5 55.Qf4 Rd1 56.Qh6+.[/font]

51.hxg5 Kg6 52.a6 Kf5 53.a7 Rxa7 54.Qf6+ 1-0

No matter where Black moves her King, White follows with a check that forks a Rook.
Stafanova resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

11. Cmilyte - Yildiz, Round 7

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 03:55 AM

Jul 2012

[center]

Viktorija Cmilyte
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http//:commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Viktorija_Cmilyte)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Viktorija Cmilyte - Betul Cemre Yildiz
Women's Grand Prix, 4th Leg, Round 7
Kazan, 17 June 2012

Queen's Gambit: Saduleto Opening (Vorotnikov Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.d5 Ne5 6.Bf4 Ng6 7.Be3 e5 8.Nc3 (N)

For a survey of this opening, see the [font color="blue"]blue notes to Black's third move[/font] in the game Howell-Slingerland, Op, Leiden, 2011
[font color="red"]8.Bxc4 a6 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bd6 11.Be2 0-0 12.Nd2 Bd7 13.a3 b5 14.b4 Nf4 15.Nb3[/font] is equal [font color="dodgerblue"](Igla-Krivac, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009[/font] in the referenced note in the link).

8...Bd6

White has a small advantage in space.

9.Qa4+!?

White wins back the "gambit" pawn.
If [font color="red"]9.h3 Bd7 10.Bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10...Nf6 11.0-0 a6 12.Qb3 b5 13.Bd3 0-0 14.a4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]10...Qe7 11.0-0 a6 12.Qb3 b5 13.Bd3 Nf6 14.a4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

9...Bd7!

Black uses her time wisely and redeploys her Bishop.

10.Qxc4

White has a slight advantage in space.

10...a6

Black advances on the queenside.

11.Qb3 b5 12.Bd3 Nf6 13.0-0

If [font color="red"]13.a4 0-0 14.0-0 b4 15.Ne2 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.h3 Rfe8 17.Rfc1 Nh5 18.a5 h6 19.Nd2[/font] still gives White a slight advantage.
[font color="darkred"]16.Rac1 h6 17.h3 Nh5 18.Rfe1 Qf6 19.Nh2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

13...Nh5!?

Perhaps this is a venial sin, but before undertaking any aggressive action, one should complete development and bring one's King to safety.
If [font color="red"]13...0-0! 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...h6![/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Rfc1 Re8 17.Bd2 Qe7 18.a5 Nh5[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]16.a5 Re8 17.Rfc1 Nf4 18.Nd2 Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Bb5[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkred"]15...Qe7!? 16.Rfe1 h6 17.Bd2 a5 18.Ng3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space

[center]BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte[/center][center]Position after 13...Nf6h5[/center]

14.Bg5!?

White fails to exploit Black's misplay.
If [font color="red"]14.g3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...0-0 15.a4 b4 16.Nb1 Nf6 17.Rc1 Ng4 18.Bc5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]14...Nf6!? 15.Rfc1 Qe7 16.a4 b4 17.Nd1 0-0 18.Bd2[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

14...f6!

Black has leveled the game.

15.Bd2 0-0

[font color="red"]15...Bg4 16.Ne1 Nhf4 17.h3 Bd7 18.Ne2 0-0[/font] remains equal.

16.g3 Bh3 17.Qd1 b4 18.Na4 Qd7

[font color="red"]18...Bxf1 19.Bxf1 Ne7 20.Bd3 Qe8 21.Qc2 Qc8[/font] remains equal.

19.Kh1?!

Why not just move the Rook instead?
If [font color="red"]19.Re1 Nhf4 20.Bxf4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...exf4 21.Nd4 Ne5 22.gxf4 Qe8 23.Re3 Nxd3 24.Qxd3[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]20...Nxf4 21.b3 Qg4 22.Nh4 Qxd1 23.Raxd1 Nxd3 24.Rxd3[/font] is equal.

19...Qg4?!

Black misses her chance at winning the exchange on f1.
Correct is [font color="red"]19...Bxf1! 20.Bxf1 Qg4 21.Bg2 Ne7 22.Qc2 f5,[/font] giving Black the initiative (the threat of 23.fxe4) and the advantage in space.

20.Rg1!

The game is equal.

20...Ne7?!

The Knight doesn't seem to to have any future here.
If [font color="red"]20...h6![/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Be3 f5 22.Nd2 Qxd1 23.Rgxd1 Ne7 24.Be2 Nf6[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]21.Rc1 f5 22.Be2 Qxe4 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.Rxc5 Bg4[/font] remains equal.

21.Rc1!

Now this is a very interesting position.

[center]BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte[/center][center]Position after 21.Ra1c1[/center]

Material is even, Black actually has a slight edge in space and faces no immediate threats. It's her move. Yet she has a big problem: She has no good move to play.

21...f5

This move was key in the note to Black's 20th move, but now it is embued with peril but virtually forced.
If [font color="red"]21...h6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]22.Nc5! Rf7 23.Be2 Bxc5 24.Ng5 Qd7 25.Nxh3[/font] when Black cannot reacpture on h3 because of 26.Bg4!.
[font color="blue"]21...a5 22.Nc5 Qc8 23.Be2 Bg4 24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.dxe6[/font] White cannot take the pawn, 25...Qxe6?, because of 26.Bc4!

22.Ng5!

White has a substianal advantage. Black's Queen has only one mocve.

22...Qxd1

The exchange is forced.

23.Rgxd1 fxe4 24.Be2!

White, who is already attacking the Bishop at h3, now also attacks the Knight at h5.
The text is sttronger than [font color="red"]24.Bxe4 Nf6 25.Bxh7+ Nxh7 26.Nxh3 Rfb8 27.Nc5[/font] when White has a fair advantage in space.

24...Bd7

This is clearly Black's best try.

25.Nc5!

White is now attacking the Bishop at d7 and the pawn at b4 in addtion the the Knight at h5.

25...Be8

No better is [font color="red"]25...Nf6 26.Nxd7 Nxd7 27.Nxe4 Nf6 28.Nxd6 cxd6 29.Bxb4[/font] when White is a pawn to the good with the Bishop pair battling two Knights.

26.Be1?!

White shuts down more counterplay. Black cannot play 26...Rxf2.
A better way to do the same thing is [font color="red"]26.Be3[/font] (keeping the Bishop active by overprotecting the Knight at c5) [font color="red"]26...Nf5 27.Kg1 Nf6 28.Nce6[/font] when White has a substantial advantage in space.

26...h6?

This is the only aggressive move Black has remaining.
[font color="red"]26...Nf6 27.Ngxe4 Nxe4 28.Nxe4 a5 29.Ng5[/font] gives White only a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte[/center][center]Position after 26...h7h6[/center]

27.Nge6!

White begins to weave a net around Black's King.

27...Nf6

Black drops material.
[font color="red"]27...Bf7 28.Nxa6 e3 29.Nexc7 Ra7 30.fxe3[/font] leaves White with two extra pawns.

28.Nxf8!

Well, what else?

28...Kxf8 29.Ne6+ Kg8 30.Nxc7 Bxc7 31.Rxc7

White is an exchange to the good with an extra pawn and a Rook on the seventh rank threatening a hanging Knight.

31...Nexd5

Black tries to turn around on White's aggressive play.
[font color="red"]31...Bd7 32.d6 Nc6 33.Rc1 Nd4 34.Bc4+[/font] is no better.

[center]BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte[/center][center]Position after 31...Ne7d5:p[/center]

32.Bc4!

The isn't going anywhere for now.

32...Rd8 33.Bxb4 Bh5

If [font color="red"]33...Bb5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]34.b3 Bxc4 35.bxc4 Nxc7 36.Rxd8+.[/font]

34.Be7 1-0

If [font color="red"]34...Bxd1[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]35.Bxd8 Kh7 36.Ra7 Kg6 37.Bxf6 Nxf6 38.Rxa6[/font]
Bayan Yildiz resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

12. Third Masters Tournament, Danzhou

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:01 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center][font size="1"]Photo by Nicolas Perrault (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nicolas_M._Perrault] in Wikipedia
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

13. Zhao Jun - Bu Xiangzhi, Round 2

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #12)

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:02 AM

Jul 2012

[center]

Bu Xiangzhi
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Frank Bettany (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Frank_Bettany) in Wikimdedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bu_Xiangzhi) (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Zhao Jun - Bu Xiangzhi
3rd Masters' Tournament, Round 2
Danzhou, 30 May 2012

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening (New York Variation)

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

Our name for this sortie is the Minerva Opening, named after the Roman war goddess. Other names for it are the Chekhover Opening, after a Soviet player contemporary with Botvinnik, and the Hungarian Opening.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening[/center][center]Position after 4.Qd1d4:p[/center]

4...a6

We have dubbed the text the New York Variation. Actually, it was first played in an international tournament in Rio de Janeiro in 1952, but Black's first victory in master play from this position was scored by Larry Evans in the US Championship, held in New York City in those days, in 1954
[font color="red"](Main Line[/font] or [font color="red"]Royal Variation)[/font] If [font color="red"]4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Nd4 Rfd8 13.Kb1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...a6 14.f3 b5 15.g4 Rac8 16.Nce2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...Ba8 17.Ng3 b4 18.Rg1 h6 19.Be3 e5 20.Ndf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (S. Zhigalko-Durarbeyli, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Bd7 17.Ng3 g6 18.Rg1 e5 19.Ndf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 d5 21.h4[/font] is equal (Vasiukov-Browne, Op, Reykjavik, 1980).

[font color="darkpink"]13...Rab8 14.f3 b5 15.g4 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.h4 a4 18.Rc1 Be8 19.Ng3 Qa7[/font] is equal (Haznedarolu-O'Connell, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If [font color="darkred"]11.Kb1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Qa5 12.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Qa6 13.Nd4 Rfc8 14.f3 Be8 15.g4 Rc4 16.Be3 Rac8 17.h4[/font] is equal (Tereladze-Gaponenko, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
If [font color="darkorange"]12...Kh8 13.Nd4 Rfd8 14.f4 Rac8 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Qf2 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]17.Rd3?![/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]17...b4 18.Rh3 bxc3 19.Qh4 cxb2[/font] Black soon won (Chuprov-Jakovenko, Russian Ch, Kazan, 2005).
[font color="purple"]17.e5 Ng4 18.Qe2 Bxg5 19.Qxg4 Be7[/font] gives Black Bishops over Knights.

[font color="magenta"]11...Qc7 12.Qd2 Rfd8 13.Nd4[/font] transposes to [font color="darkpink"]Hazendarolu-O'Connell,[/font] above.

If [font color="darkred"]9.0-0 Be7 10.Rad1 0-0 11.Rfe1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Qa5 12.Bh4 Rfd8 13.Qd3 Qh5 14.Bg3 Qc5 15.Bh4 b6 16.Nd4 Bb7[/font] is equal (Toufighi-Paragua, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
If [font color="magenta"]11...Qc7[/font] then:

After [font color="magenta"]12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qe3 Rfe8 14.Qh6 Kh8 15.Qh5 Bf8 16.Nd4 Qe7 17.Re3[/font] White builds a kingside attack (Rogers-T. Ernst, IT, Berlin, 1986).
If [font color="darkorange"]12.h3 Rfd8 13.Nh2 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Rd3?![/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14...a5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]15.Rf3!? b4![/font] Black has a fair advantage in space (Geller-Kogan, Trmt, Odessa, 1946).
[font color="burgundy"]15.Ng4! e5 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qe3 Bxg5 18.Qxg5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.

Black has a small advantage in space, but [font color="hotpink"]14...b4! 15.Nd1 a5 16.Rf3 e5[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage in space.

[font color="purple"]14.Ng4 Nxg4 15.Bxe716.hxg4[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkred"]7.c4 Nf6 8.Nc3 g6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.Qd3 0-0 11.Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Qb6 12.Rd1 Ng4 13.Qd2 Qc5 14.h3 Nf6 15.Qe2 Rfc8 16.b3 Qe5 17.f3 Nh5 18.Be3 f5[/font] is equal (Ni Hua-Zhou Jianchao, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009).
[font color="magenta"]11...Nd7 12.Be3 a5 13.b3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Ne6 15.Qd2 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Cabrilo-Atakisi, IT, Sarajevo, 2008).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening (Main Line)[/center][center]Position after 4...Nc6[/center]

If [font color="blue"]4...Bd7 5.c4 Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]6.Qd2 g6 7.b3 Bg7[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]8.Qa5 Nf6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]10...Qa5 11.Rb1[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]11...a6 12.a3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]12...Rfc8 13.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]13...Qd8[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]14.h3 Rab8 15.Rfd1 Na5 16.Ba1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Yilmaz-Solomon, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
[font color="#40A0C0"]14.b4 Rab8 15.Rfd1 Bg4 16.Qe3 Bxf3 17.gxf3[/font] is equal (Salman-Jelica, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

[font color="#8040C0"]13...Rab8?! 14.h3! Be6 15.b4 Qd8 16.Qe3 Nd7 17.Nd5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Vasiukov-Pribyl, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1972).

If [font color="darkblue"]12...Bg4 13.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]13...Nd7 14.b4 Qd8 15.Nd5 Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Rc8 17.Rc1[/font] is equal (Priyadharshan-Narayanan, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
[font color="dodgerblue"]13...Qh5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qh4 16.Rfe1 Nd7 17.Nd5[/font] is equal (Smejkal-U. Andersson, ZT, Raach, 1969).

If [font color="darkblue"]11...Rfc8 12.0-0 a6 13.Rfd1 Bg4 14.Qe3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]14...Nd7?! 15.Nd5! Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 e6 18.Nc3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Anand-Kasparov, Rpd KO, Moscow, 1995).
[font color="dodgerblue"]14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nd7 16.f4 Rd8 17.Bg4 Nf6 18.Bh3[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkblue"]10...Bg4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]11.0-0 Qa5 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3[/font] is equal (V. Hansen-Carlsen, Norwegian ChT, Oslo, 2002).
[font color="dodgerblue"]11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nd7 13.0-0 Qa5 14.Rab1[/font] is equal (J. Polgar-Topalov, IT, Dos Hermanas, Spain, 1996).

If [font color="darkblue"]8.Bb2 Bxb2 9.Qxb2 Nf6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10.Nc3 Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]11.Bd3 Bg4 12.Nd2 0-0 13.0-0 Qg5 14.Kh1 Qe5[/font] is equal (Jussupow-Morrison, World Youth BU20, Innsbruk, Austria, 1977).
[font color="darkcyan"]11.Qd2 Bg4 12.Be2 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Qe5 14.Rd1 g5[/font] is equal (Golod-Berkovich, IT, Ufa, Russia, 1993).

[font color="dodgerblue"]10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Be2 Nh5 12.0-0 Nf4 13.Rfe1 e5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Bannik-Spassky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1957).

If [font color="darkblue"]6.Qd1 Nf6 7.Nc3 g6 8.Be2 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.h3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10...Rc8 11.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]11...a6 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Re1 Be6 14.Ng5 [/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Zvjaginsev-Naiditsch, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
[font color="darkcyan"]11...Na5 12.Nd2 Be6 13.Nd5 b6 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.b3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fongers-Ulms, Bundesliga 9899W, Germany, 1999).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...a6 11.Be3 Rb8 12.Nd2 Ne8 13.Nb3 b6 14.Qd2 Nc7 15.Rad1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Panchenko-Chiburdanidze, Soviet Ch FL, Tashkent, 1980).

5.Be3

If [font color="red"]5.c4 Nc6 6.Qd2 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.b3 Bg7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Bg4 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Qa5 12.Rfd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Nd7 13.Nd5 Qxd2 14.Rxd2 Nc5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Redolfi-Najdorf, Buenos Aires Ch, 1955).
[font color="burgundy"]12...Rfc8 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.a4[/font] is equal (Sarakauskas-C. Balogh, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Rab1 Nd7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3[/font] is equal (Kagramanov-Khurtsidze, OlW, Bled, 2002).
[font color="magenta"]12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 b5 14.cxb5 axb5[/font] is equal (Minev-Nicevski, IT, Albena, 1973).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Qa5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Nd5 Qxd2+ 12.Nxd2 Nxd5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.cxd5 Nd4 15.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15...Bd7 16.Rc7 Bb5 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Rxc4 Rac8[/font] is equal (Ponomariov-Aronian, World Youth BU12, Szeged, 1994).
[font color="burgundy"]15...e6 16.Nc4 exd5 17.exd5 Re8 18.Ne3 Bf5 19.Rc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (J. Polgar-Komljenovic, Rpd Op, Oviedo, Spain, 1993).

[font color="darkpink"]14.exd5 Nd4 15.Rc1 Nxe2 16.Kxe2 Bd7 17.Rhe1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Kovacevic-Antic, IT, Cyberspace, 2003).

If [font color="magenta"]11.Rb1 Bg4 12.0-0 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13.Rfe1 Rfc8 14.a3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd4[/font] is equal (Stancic-Mladenovic, TT, Belgrade, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]13.a3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nd4 15.Bd1 Rac8 16.b4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and a slight initiative (Kuzevanova-Bazeev, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]8.Bb2 Bxb2 9.Qxb2 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.Be2 Bg4 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nc3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd4[/font] gives Black the initiative and a slight edge in space (Seifert-Wojtkiewicz, Polish Ch, Czestochowa, 1992).
[font color="magenta"]10.Nc3 Bg4 11.Be2 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nd4 13.Be2 0-0[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Bachmann Schiavo-Predojevic, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]7.Nc3 Bh6 8.Qc2 Bg7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9.Be3 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.h3 Qa5 11.Nd2 0-0 12.Be2 Be6 13.0-0[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Braga-Huzman, Op, Benasque, Spain, 1993).
[font color="burgundy"]10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Bg4 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.b3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov, Blitz, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).

If [font color="magenta"]9.h3 Nf6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11...Be6 12.Rd1 Qa5 13.Nd5 Rfc8 14.Bd2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Radulov-Browne, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).
[font color="darkorange"]11...Nd7 12.Be3 Nc5 13.Rad1 Bd7 14.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Batista-Leitão, Brazilian Ch, Itabirito, 1998).

If [font color="blue"]5.Bg5 Nc6 6.Qd2 Nf6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]7.Bd3 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]8.c4!? h6![/font] (the game is equal) [font color="blue"]9.Bf4 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]12...Bg4?! 13.cxd5![/font] (White has a fair advantage in space) then:

If [font color="blue"]13...Bxf3?! 14.dxc6![/font] (White has a passed pawn and a powerful initiative) [font color="blue"]14...Bxc6 15.Rad1 0-0 16.Bxh6!![/font] then:

[font color="blue"]16...gxh6? 17.Qxh6![/font] gives White a winning game although he has only two pawns for a Bishop; Black resigned after another nine moves (Kamsky-Lautier, IT, Dortmund, 1993).
[font color="steelblue"]16...Qa5 17.Qg5 Qxg5 18.Bxg5 Rfe8 19.Rfe1 Kf8 20.Bc2[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn, power in the center and more space.

[font color="slateblue"]13...Nxd5 14.Be4 Bxf3 15.Bxd5 Bxd5 16.Nxd5 0-0 17.Bc7[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.

[font color="darkcyan"]12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qxd2 14.Nxd2 0-0[/font] remains equal.

[font color="dodgerblue"]8.Nc3 Be7 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 Qc7 11.a4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

If [font color="darkblue"]7.Nc3 e6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.Bf4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]9...Ng4 10.h3 Nge5 11.Nxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]11...dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Bxd8 13.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13...b5 14.a4 b4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]15.Na2 Be7 16.Kb1 f6 17.Nc1 Kf7 18.Nb3[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Gashimov-Polzin, ).
[font color="steelblue"]15.Nb1 Bb7 16.Nd2 Be7 17.Nb3 Rd8 18.Bc4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kallai-van Mil, World ChT, Graz, 1981).

[font color="slateblue"]13...Rb8 14.Na4 b5 15.Nc5 Bb6 16.c3 Ke7 17.b4[/font] gives White command of the d-file and a comfortable advantage in space (Yu Ruiyuan-Narayanan, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012).

[font color="darkcyan"]11...Nxe5 12.Nb5 axb5 13.Bxe5 Bd7 14.Bxd6 Rxa2 15.Kb1[/font] is equal (Yu Ruiyuan-So, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...e5 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Bxf6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]11...Bxf6 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nd4 14.Qe3 0-0 15.Bd3[/font] is equal (Moussard-Gähwiler, World Youth BU14, Vang Tau, Vietnam, 2008).
[font color="darkcyan"]11...gxf6 12.Nd5 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Nxe7 Qxe7 15.Qxd6[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Millet-Benmesbah, French ChT, Belfort, 2012).

5...Nc6 6.Qd2

If [font color="red"]6.Qb6 Qxb6 7.Bxb6 Nf6 8.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8...Bg4 9.Be2 Rc8 10.0-0-0 g6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Be3 Bg7 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd7 14.Nd5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (de Sousa-Maze, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).
If [font color="darkred"]11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Bg7 13.Nd5 Nd7 14.Be3[/font] gives White a slight edge (Marinkovic-Sedlak, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]12...Bh6+ 13.Kb1 Nd7 14.Na4 Nce5 15.Be2 Nxb6 16.Nxb6 Rc6[/font] is equal (J. Polgar-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]8...g6 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Nb8 11.Bd4 Rg8 12.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Nd7 13.0-0-0 Bg7 14.Rhe1 Nf6 15.Bc4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Feliciano-Schöne, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]12...Bg4 13.Nd2 Nd7 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Rfe1 Bf5 16.Bxf5[/font] gives White a very slight advantage (Voitsekhovsky-Babaev, Lasker Mem Op, Barlinek, Czechia, 2001).

[font color="magenta"]10...Nb4 11.0-0-0 Bf5?! 12.c3 Rc8 13.a3 Bh6+ 14.Be3 Bxe3+ 15.fxe3[/font] gives White a very comfortable game (Gashimov-Navara, World Youth BU12, Cannes, 1997).

6...Bg4 ?! 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nd4 (N)

[font color="red"]8.0-0-0 Nf6 9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe1 Qa5 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nd2[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Brkic-Gashimov, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2009).

8...Nxd4

White has more freedom. Black's Bishop is poorly placed on g4.

9.Qxd4 Ne7 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6

Driving back the Bishop was easily forseen after White's novelty, which deserves more praise than a novelty in a losing effort usually gets.

12.f4 Nc6 13.Qd2!?

This gives White time to play ...h7h6 and save his Bishop before White can play f4f5!.
Better is [font color="red"]13.Qc4! Na5 14.Qb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...b5 15.f5! Nc6 16.Qb3 Na5 17.Bxb5+ axb5 18.Qxb5+[/font] gives White three pawns for a piece.
[font color="darkred"]14...h6?[/font] now proves too late after [font color="darkred"]15.0-0-0[/font] when:

[font color="darkred"]15...Bh7 16.Rh2 Qc7 17.Bb6 Nc6 18.Bxc7 Nxb4 19.Rhd2[/font] gives White a whale-sized advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]15...Be7 16.f5! Bh7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.Bc5 Qc7 18.Bxd6 Nc6 19.Qc4 Bxd6 20.fxe6[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good.
If [font color="darkorange"]17.fxe6[/font] then White still wins after [font color="darkorange"]17...fxe6 18.Bc5! Rc8 19.Bxd6 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Qg5+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 13.Qd4d2[/center]

13...h6!

The Bishop will have a place to go if attacked, but it's still not pretty.

14.0-0-0

[font color="red"]14.f5 Ne5 15.0-0-0 Bh7 16.Be2 Qa5 17.Qd4[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space.

14...Be7 15.Kb1!?

White should take advantage of his spatial superiority while its his.
[font color="red"]15.f5 Bh7 16.h4 b5 17.Kb1 Qa5 18.Qg2[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage, especially on the kingside.

15...Rc8?!

White has a huge advantage in space and the threat of 16.f5!. This move addresses neither problem.
If [font color="red"]15...b5 16.f5 Bh7 17.a3 Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Be2 0-0 19.h4 b4 20.axb4 Rxb4 21.g5[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]18.fxe6?! fxe6! 19.Bg2 Ne5 20.Ne2 Nc4 21.Qc3[/font] is equal.

16.f5!

Well, of course. Black Bishop will sit passively for a spell.

16...Bh7 17.Bc4 Ne5

If [font color="red"]17...Na5 18.Be2 0-0 19.h4 Bxh4 20.Bxh6!![/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...b5 21.Bf4 b4 22.Na4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]20...gxh6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]21.Qxh6 Qg5 22.Qxh4 Qxh4 23.Rxh4.[/font]

18.Bb3 Nc4 19.Bxc4?!

White assists Black in getting his Rook into play.
Better is [font color="red"]19.Qe2 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qd7 21.h4 Bg8 22.e5[/font] when White still has a lot more space more space; Black is caught in a vise.

19...Rxc4!

White's advantage in spacehas been whittled down.

20.b3

If [font color="red"]20.Qd3!? b5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.h4 Qc7 22.g5 d5 23.exd5 Bxf5 24.d6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space
[font color="darkred"]21.Rhf1?! Qc7 22.a3 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]23.Bf4 Rd8 24.Qg3 b4 25.axb4 Rxb4 26.Rd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space
[font color="magenta"]23.Bd4 Qb7 24.f6 gxf6 25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Rxf6[/font] gives White a slim edge in space.

20...Rc6?!

The Rook should retreat all the way back to c8, where it is less vulnerable than in the text.
If [font color="red"]20...Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Ne2 0-0 22.Nf4 Qc7 23.Nh5 Qc6 24.Rhe1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space, generally concentrated on the kingside.
[font color="darkred"]21.fxe6?! fxe6 22.Rhf1 Qa5 23.Kb2 b5 24.Qd4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 20...Rc4c6[/center]

21.Ne2!

White has a comfortable advantage in space. The Knight threatens to come to d4.

21...0-0 22.Rhg1?!

This move figures in a winning plan, but White should open the g-file first.
If [font color="red"]22.Nd4! Rc8 23.h4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...e5 24.Ne2 Qc7 25.Ng3 Qc3 26.Qf2 Rfd8 27.Rd5[/font] gives White a huge advantage that is on the brink of winning.
If [font color="darkred"]23...exf5 24.exf5 Bf6 25.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]25...h5 26.gxh5 Qc7 27.c3 Rfe8 28.h6 Qe7 29.Rhe1[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]25...Qd7? 26.g5 Bxd4 27.Bxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]27...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]28.g6 fxg6 29.fxg6 Bxg6 30.Rhg1 Qe8 31.Rxg6.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]27...hxg5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Qxg5+ Bg6 30.Rhg1.[/font]

22...Bf6

Black takes command of the long diagonal. White still has a fair advantage.
If [font color="red"]22...Rc8 23.Ng3 Qc7 24.Nh5 Qc6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25.Rde1 Kh8 26.g5 hxg5 27.Bxg5 f6[/font] contionues to give White a fair advantage.
[font color="darkred"]25.g5?! Qxe4! 26.Ng3 Qe5 27.gxh6 Bf6 28.Bd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

23.Nd4 Rc8 24.Nf3 d5 25.g5

White has a fair advantage in space and power in the center,
If [font color="red"]25.Qf2![/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Qa5 26.g5 hxg5 27.Nxg5 dxe4 28.Nxh7 Kxh7 29.Bg5[/font] gives White a power advantage on the kingside.
If [font color="darkred"]25...Qc7?! 26.g5! hxg5 27.Nxg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]27...dxe4 28.Nxe4 Qe5 29.Bd4 Qxe4 30.Bxf6[/font] gives White a strong kingside attack.
[font color="magenta"]27...Qc6 28.Nxh7 Kxh7 29.exd5 exd5 30.Bd4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

25...hxg5 26.Nxg5 dxe4 27.Qg2 Qa5?!

Aiming the Queen at the h6 square is a good, but this is the wroong way to carry it out.
If [font color="red"]27...Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28.fxe6 Bxg5 29.Bxg5 Qxe6 30.Be7[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.
[font color="darkred"]28.Nxh7?! Kxh7! 29.Qxe4 exf5! 30.Qxf5+ g6[/font] is equal.

28.Bd4?!

White throws away his advantage altogether.
[font color="red"]28.Nxh7! Kxh7 29.fxe6 Qf5 30.e7 Rg8 31.Rgf1[/font] gives White a pawn knocking at the palace gate and a strong kingside initiative.

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 28.Be3d4[/center]

28...Bxd4!

The game is equal.

29.Rxd4 Bxf5 30.Nxe6 g6 31.Nxf8 e3!?

The pawn advance is a waste of time in this position.
Better is [font color="red"]31...Kxf8! 32.Rxe4 Bxe4 33.Qxe4 Qc3 34.h4[/font] when the game remains equal.

32.Rc1!?

The game remains level.
[font color="red"]32.Nxg6! Rxc2 33.Ne7+ Kf8 34.Qg8+ Kxe7 35.Qg5+[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

32...Kxf8 33.Qe2??

White allows Black to take over the center.
If [font color="red"]33.Qd5! Rc5 34.Qd6+ Kg7 35.b4 Rb5 36.Kb2 Qa4[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 33.Qg2e2[/center]

33...Qe5!

Black is a piece to the good.

34.Rdd1

If [font color="red"]34.Rd2 Qc5 35.Rdd1 Qc3 36.Rd5 Be4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37.Rd3 Bxd3 38.Qxd3 Qxd3 39.cxd3 Rxc1+ 40.Kxc1 f5[/font] is an easy win for Black.
If [font color="darkred"]37.Rdd1 a5 38.Qh2 a4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]39.Qd6+ Kg8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]40.Rd3 40...Bxd3 41.Qxd3 Qxd3 42.cxd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]42...Rxc1+ 43.Kxc1 axb3 44.axb3 f5 45.Kd1 f4 46.Ke2[/font] leaves winning for Black just a matter of technique.
Black also wins after [font color="purple"]42...Re8 43.bxa4 e2 44.Re1 f5 45.Kc1 f4.[/font]

[font color="darkorange"]40.Qd4 Bxc2+ 41.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 42.Ka1 e2 43.Rg1 a3[/font] leaves White no way to avert mate.

If [font color="magenta"]39.bxa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]39...Rc4 40.Qd6+ Kg7 41.a3 Bxc2+!.[/font]

34...a5 35.Re1

If [font color="red"]35.Rf1[/font] then after [font color="red"]35...b5 36.Qe1 e2 37.Rf2 Re8 38.Rf3 b4[/font] White is crushe under the weight of Black's advanced pawns.

35...Rc3

If [font color="red"]35...Qc3!?[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36.Qxe3 Bxc2+ 37.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 38.Ka1 Qf5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]39.Re2 b5 40.Kb2 Kg8 41.Rf2 Qd5 42.h4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a safer King.
If [font color="darkred"]39.a4? Kg8 40.Re2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]40...b5 41.Rf2 Qd7 42.axb5 a4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]43.b4 Qxb5 44.Qd4 Qe8 45.Qb2 Qe3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, a safer King and greater piece activity.
If [font color="darkorange"]43.bxa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]43...Qd1+ 44.Kb2 Qxa4 45.Qf3 Qxb5+.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]40...Rd8[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]41.Kb2 Rd3 42.Qe8+ Kh7 43.Qb5 Qf3.[/font]

[font color="darkorchid"]36.h4!? a4 37.Qxe3 Bxc2+ 38.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 39.Ka1 a3.[/font]

36.Qd1 a4 37.Qd8+

If [font color="red"]37.bxa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]37...Rc6 38.Qd8+ Kg7 39.Rf1 e2 40.Rfe1 Qc3.[/font]

37...Kg7 38.bxa4

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 38.ba4:p[/center]

38...Rc4!?

Black win quicker after [font color="red"]38...Qc5 39.Red1 Qb4+ 40.Ka1 Rxc2 41.Rxc2 Bxc2.[/font]

39.Qb6 Qc3 40.a3 Bxc2+ 41.Ka2 Qd2 42.Qb2+ Kg8

If [font color="red"]42...Kh7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43.Rxe3[/font] then Black's kingside pawn decide the game after [font color="red"]43...Qxe3 44.Rxc2 Rxc2 45.Qxc2 Qxh3.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]43.Re2 Qxe2 44.h4 Bb3+!! 45.Kxb3 Qd3+ 46.Qc3 Rxc3+ 47.Rxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]47...Qd1+ 48.Kb2 Qxa4 49.Rxe3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]49...Qxh4 50.Kc3 g5[/font] there is nothing left to stop the g-pawn, unless the cares to give itself up.
If [font color="darkrorange"]49...Qd4+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]50.Rc3 Qxh4.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]47...e2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]48.Rxd3 e1Q.[/font]

43.h4

[font color="red"]43.Rxe3 Qxe3 44.Rxc2 Rxc2 45.Qxc2 Qxh3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and two connected passers.

43...e2! 44.Rg1

If [font color="red"]44.h5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]44...Rc3 45.Ka1 Qd3 46.Ka2 g5 47.h6 Kh7.[/font]

44...Rc3 45.Rge1 0-1

[font color="red"]45...Bb3+[/font] precipatates a string of forced moves when:

If [font color="red"]46.Ka1 Rxc1+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]47.Rxc1 e1Q[/font] then:

[font color="red"]48.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 49.Qb1 Qxb1+ 50.Kxb1 Bxa4[/font] leaves Black nothing at all.
If [font color="darkorange"]48.Qxd2 Qxd2 49.Rc8+ Kg7 50.Kb1 Ba2+ 51.Ka1 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]52.Kb1[/font] then [font color="darkorange"]52...Bxc8 53.a5 Bf5+ 54.Ka1 Qc2[/font] is followed by mate on the next move.
If [font color="purple"]52.Rc4[/font] then Black gives mate soon after [font color="purple"]52...Bxc4 53.Kb1 Bb3.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]47.Qxc1[/font] then [font color="magenta"]47...Qa2#.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]46.Kb1[/font] then [font color="darkred"]46...Rxc1+ 47.Rxc1 e1Q etc.[/font] is the same idea

Zhao Xiansheng resigns without waithing for Bu Xiansheng to reply.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

14. Ni Hua - Hou Yifan, Round 8

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #12)

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:03 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Ni Hua[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Lightex (http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=User:Lightex&action=edit&redlink=1) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ni_Hua) (Public Domain)
[/font]

Ni Hua - Hou Yifan
3rd Danzhou Tournament, Round 8
Danzhou, 6 June 2012

Open Norman Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense (Yugoslav Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Be7 7.f4 0-0 8.Qf3 e5

White already has a fair advantage in space.
For a survey of the Scheveningen Defense/Yugoslav Opening, see Munguntuul-Sukandar, Asain Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012.[/i

9.Nf5 Bxf5 10.exf5 Nbd7

If [font color="red"]10...Qa5 11.0-0-0 e4 12.Qe2 Rc8 13.Qb5 Qc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.Rg1 Ng4 15.Bd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...d5 16.Be2 Bf6 17.Bxg4 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Qxf4+ 19.Kb1 Nc6 20.Rxd5 Qxg4 21.Rd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Re8 22.Qxb7 Ne5 23.Re7 Nf3?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]23...Qxf5! 24.Nd5! Rf8 25.Rxe4 Qg5 26.h4[/font] when he has two extra pawns (Sang Cao-Stocek, 1st Saturday October, Budapest, 1997).
[font color="burgundy"]24.Nxe4 Nc4 25.b3 Rec8 26.Ka1 Ne3 27.c4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.

[font color="darkpink"]21...e3 22.Qd5 Rf8 23.Rxb7 Nd4 24.Rd7 Nxf5 25.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Ehlvest-Jansa, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1983).

[font color="darkorchid"]15...Bf6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.g4 d5 18.g5[/font] gives White a powerful initiative (Oll-Boensch, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1983).

If [font color="darkred"]14.Be2 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.g4 a6 16.Qb4 b5 17.g5 a5 18.Qb3[/font] gives White a fair asdvantage in space (Oll-Salov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Ivano Frankovsk, 1982).
[font color="magenta"]15.Rd2 a6 16.Qb4 Bf8 17.Nxe4 Nd5 18.Qb3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sendera-W. Schmidt, Op, Katowice, 1990).

11.0-0-0 Rc8?!

If [font color="red"]11...Qa5 12.g4 Rac8 13.g5 Rxc3 14.gxf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Nxf6 15.bxc3 d5 16.Kd2 d4 17.Bxd4 exd4[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and a safer King (Rubery-Kulashko, Ol, Elista, 1998).
[font color="darkred"]14...Rxe3 15.Qxe3 Bxf6 16.Bc4 exf4 17.Qxf4 Nc5 18.Qf3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Leko-Theissen, Op, Dortmund, 1992).

12.Bb5?!

[font color="red"]12.fxe5 Nxe5 13.Qxb7 Rxc3 14.bxc3 d5 15.Bd3 Ba3+ 16.Kd2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Lintchevski-Timofeev, Russian Ch HL, Taganrog, 2011).
If [font color="blue"]12.Qxb7[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]12...Ng4 13.Bxa7 exf4 14.Nd5 Bf6 15.Bb5[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space (Fritz 13).
[font color="darkblue"]12...Nc5 13.Bxc5 Rxc5 14.fxe5 Rxe5 15.Qxa7[/font] gives White two extra pawns.

[center]BLACK: Hou Yifan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ni Hua[/center][center]Position after 12.Bf1b5[/center]

12...Rxc3!

Black has a moble pawn center and White has more space.

13.bxc3 d5 (N)

[font color="red"]13...Qc7 14.Bxd7 Nxd7 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Qd5 Qxc3 17.Qb3 Qc6 18.Qd5 Qc3 19.Qb3 Qc6 20.Qd5[/font] draw (Hoffmann-Babula, Bundesliga 0809, Germany, 2008).

14.Rxd5?!

Hou Nushi's novelty is a good one, but Ni Xiansheng makes it even better with inaccurate play.
Better is [font color="red"]14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Qf4 Nc6 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qa4[/font] with equality.

14...Ba3+!?

Black has a stronger pawns and a small advantage in space. White has the exchange for a pawn, but he has structural damage on both wings.
If [font color="red"]14...e4! 15.Rxd7 Ba3+ 16.Kd2 Qxd7+ 17.Bxd7 exf3[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage.

15.Kb1 Qa5!?

Black has stronger pawns, but allows White to repair structural damage on the kingside.
If [font color="red"]15...e4! 16.Qd1 Qa5 17.Bc4 Qxc3 18.Qd4 Qb4+[/font] leaves Black with a small advantage.

[center]BLACK: Hou Yifan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ni Hua[/center][center]Position after 15...Qd8a5[/center]

16.fxe5!

The game is equal.

16...Nxe5 17.Rxe5 Qxc3 18.Bc1 Qxe5 19.Bxa3 Ne4?!

Black threatens 20...Nd2+, but this is easily parried.
[font color="red"]19...Qxb5+ 20.Qb3 Qxb3+ 21.axb3 Rd8[/font] remains equal.

20.Bb4?!

White parries the fork at d2, but still leaves himself open to other threats.
Best is [font color="red"]20.Qd3![/font] (covering both d2 and the Bishop at b5) [font color="red"]20...Nc3+ 21.Ka1 Nxb5+[/font] when:

If [font color="red"]22.Bb2! Qc5 23.c4 Qd6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Qxd6 24...Nxd6 25.Ba3 Nxc4 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Re1[/font] gives Black only a pawn for the exchange.
[font color="burgundy"]24.Rd1?! Qxd3 25.Rxd3 Nc7 26.Rd7[/font] gives White only a comfortable advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]22.Kb1?? Nc3+ 23.Ka1 Nd1+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.Kb1 Nf2 25.Qf1 Nxh1 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Qxh1 Qxf5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
[font color="magenta"]24.c3 Nf2 25.Qf1 Nxh1 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Qxh1 Qxf5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Hou Yifan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ni Hua[/center][center]Position after 20.Ba3b4[/center]

20...Qxb5!

White has only a small advantage, but things could have been a lot worse for Black.

21.Qxe4 Re8!?

White is temporarily a piece to the good and Black sould aimply win it back while she can.
If [font color="red"]21...a5![/font] (winning back the piece) [font color="red"]22.Rd1 axb4 23.Qe7 Qb6 24.g4 h6 25.h3[/font] continues to give White small advantage in space.

22.Qd4!

This gives White a fair advantage in space.

22...a5

Black finall wins back the piece./li]

23.a4!

White has a comfortable advantage in space.

23...Qxb4+ 24.Qxb4 axb4

[center]BLACK: Hou Yifan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ni Hua[/center][center]Position after 24...ab4:Q[/center]

25.Rd1!

It's time to activate the Rook.
[font color="red"]25.a5?! Re5! 26.Rd1 h5 27.Rd8+ Kh7 28.Rd7 Rxf5[/font] is equal.

25...g6

[font color="red"]25...h5 26.Rd4 Re7 27.Rxb4 Kh7 28.Kb2 Rc7 29.h4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.

26.f6!

White limits Black's freedom by confining the Rook to the back rank to guard against mate on d8.

26...h5

White has a substantial advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]26...Ra8[/font] then White wins a pawn after [font color="red"]27.Kb2 h6 28.Kb3 Rc8 29.Rd4.[/font]

27.Kb2 Re6?

Although Black has given herself some room for he king, roving the Rook from the back rank still courts disaster.
If [font color="red"]27...Ra8 28.Kb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28...Rc8 29.Rd2 Rc3+ 30.Kxb4 Rc6 31.Rd8+ Kh7 32.Rd7[/font] wins the important f-pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]28...Re8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]29.a5 Rc8 30.Rd2 Kh7 31.Kxb4 Rc6 32.Kb5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Hou Yifan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ni Hua[/center][center]Position after 27...Re8e6[/center]

28.Rd8+! Kh7 29.Rd7 b6

If [font color="red"]29...Kh6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]30.Rxb7 Rxf6 31.Rxb4 Rf5 32.Rb5.[/font]

30.Rxf7+ Kh6 31.Rf8 Kh7

If [font color="red"]31...g5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]32.g3 Rd6 33.f7 Kg7 34.Rg8+ Kxf7 35.Rxg5.[/font]

32.h4 Rc6 33.Kb3

Even stronger is [font color="red"]33.g3 g5 34.hxg5 Rc3 35.Rb8 Kg6 36.Rxb6.[/font]

33...Rc3+ 34.Kxb4 Rxc2 35.Rb8 Rf2

If [font color="red"]35...Rb2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]36.Ka3 Rf2 37.Rxb6 Rf5 38.Kb4 Rf4+ 39.Kb5.[/font]

36.Rxb6 Rxg2

If [font color="red"]36...Rb2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]37.Kc5 Ra2 38.Rb8 Rf2 39.Rb7+.[/font]
The rest needs no comment.

37.a5 g5 38.f7 Kg7 39.Rf6 Kf8 40.hxg5 Rxg5 41.a6 Rg1 42.a7 Ra1 43.Rh6 1-0

[font color="red"]43...Kg7 44.f8Q+ Kxf8 45.a8Q+ Rxa8 46.Rh8+[/font] wins the Rook and the game.
[font color="blue"]43...Kxf7[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]44.Kb5 Rb1+ 45.Ka6 Ra1+ 46.Kb7 Rb1+ 47.Rb6.[/font]

Hou Nushi resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

15. French Team Championship, Belfort

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:07 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Eugène Delacroix, Liberty Leading the People[/center][font size="1"]From Wikipedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eugène_Delacroix_-_La_liberté_guidant_le_peuple.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

16. Fressinet (Clichy) - Abergel (Chalons), Round 6

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:09 AM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Laurent Fressinet[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Laurent_Fressinet) (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Laurent Fressinet (Clichy) - Thal Abergel (Chalons)
French Team Championship Round 6/Board 5
Belfort, 5 June 2012

West India Game: Kings' Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 c6 6.Nf3 d6 7.0-0 Qc7

If [font color="red"]7...e5 8.e4 Qb6 9.h3 Nbd7 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4[/font] leads to the first note [font color="red"](Kashlinskaya-Kryakvin)[/font] in the game Maiorov-B. Socko, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010.

8.h3 h6?! (N)

If [font color="red"]8...Nbd7 9.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...e5 10.Be3 Re8 11.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...exd4 12.Nxd4 a6 13.Rac1 Ne5 14.b3 Qe7 15.Rfe1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Scheffknecht-Sigfusson, Euro Club Cup, Ponormo, Greece, 2001).
If [font color="darkred"]11...Nf8?! 12.Rad1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...exd4 13.Nxd4 Ne6 14.Ndb5 cxb5 15.Nxb5 Qe7 16.Nxd6 Rd8[/font] gives Black a minor piece for two pawns and the initiative (Uryupin-Larin, Op, Tambov, 2011).
[font color="magenta"]12...Bd7 13.c5 d5 14.exd5 cxd5 15.Nxe5 Bc6 16.Nd3[/font] gives White an extra pawn, stronger pawns and more space (Donaldson-Cantrell, Op, Souix Falls, South Dakota, 2001).

[font color="darkorchid"]9...a6 10.a4 e5 11.Be3 exd4 12.Nxd4 Re8 13.Qc2 a5[/font] is equal (O. Vovk-Gunnarsson, Op, Reyjavik, 2011).

[center]BLACK: Thal Abergel[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 8...h7h6[/center]

9.e4!

White has a fair advantage in space.

9...e5 10.Be3

[font color="red"]10.c5 dxc5 11.dxe5 Nfd7 12.e6 fxe6 13.Nh4[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

10...Nbd7 11.Qd2 Kh7?!

The King reinforces the safety of its kigeside pawns, but by so doing Black neglects the center.
If [font color="red"]11...exd4 12.Nxd4 h5 13.Rad1 Re8 14.b3 Nc5 15.f3[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

12.Rad1!?

This isn't bad, but White had a much better reply.
If [font color="red"]12.d5! a5 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Rfd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Ne8 15.h4 Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.b3 Rg8 17.Bh3 Ndf6 18.Bxc8 Rxc8 19.c5[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]16.h5?! Nc5! 17.b3 Bg4 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.Na4[/font] gives Whit a small advatage in space.

[font color="darkred"]14...Rb8?! 15.b3 Nc5 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Qd6 Rb7 18.Qxc5[/font] gives White a comfoirtable advantage in space.

12...exd4!

White has a comfortable game.

13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Rfe1

If [font color="red"]14.Qc2 Nc5 15.Rfe1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Rd8 16.Rd2 Qe7 17.b4 Ne6 18.Nde2 Nd7 19.f4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]17.f4 a5 18.b5 Nb6 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.Na4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]15...Nfd7 16.b4 Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Nxe6 Rxe6 18.Ne2 b6 19.Rd2 Ba6 20.Red1[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.

14...a6?!

If [font color="red"]14...Nc5 15.Qc2 Bf8 16.f4 a5 17.Nb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Nfd7 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Qf2 b6 20.Bd4 Bb7 21.e5[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage.
If [font color="darkred"]17...a4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]18.Nxc5! dxc5 19.Nxa4 b6 20.b3 Nh5 21.Qf2.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Thal Abergel[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 14...a7a6[/center]

15.f4!

White has a tremendous advantage in space.

15...Nc5

If [font color="red"]15...a5?! 16.Nf3 Nb6 17.b3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Nbd7 18.Bd4 Re6 19.g4 Kg8 20.f5 Re7 21.g5[/font] gives White a crushing advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]17...Nfd7 18.Bd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...a4 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qd4+ Kg8 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5[/font] gives White a huge advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]18...Kg8[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qd4+ Kg8 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5.[/font]

16.Bf2 Bxh3?!

Black is already getting desperate.
If [font color="red"]16...Bf8 17.b4 Ne6 18.Nb3 Be7 19.Be3 Ng7 20.c5[/font] gives White a huge advantage in space.

17.Bxh3 Nfxe4

If [font color="red"]17...Ncxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...Nxf2 20.Qxf2 Qa5 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.f5[/font] yields for White a Knight for just two pawns.
If [font color="darkred"]19...Bxd4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]20.Rxe4 Rxe4 21.Qxe4 Bxf2+ 22.Kxf2[/font] when he has a Bishop for two pawns.

18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 Rxe4 20.Nf5 Bf8?

The starship is caught in a trackter beam. It's a straight path from here to the end.
If [font color="red"]20...Rxc4 21.Nxg7 Kxg7 22.Bd4+ Kg8 23.b3 Rxd4 24.Qxd4[/font] gives White a Queen radianting power on d4 and a Bishop for three pawns. Black's pieces are pictures of passivity.

[center]BLACK: Thal Abergel[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 20...Bg7f8[/center]

21.Nxd6!

White wins a pawn and seizes the initiative.

21...Bxd6 22.Qxd6 Qxd6 23.Rxd6 Rxc4

If [font color="red"]23...Rae8 24.Bf1 R4e6 25.Rd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...g5 26.Bc5 Kg6 27.Rd7 b5 28.Bd3+[/font] gives White the Bishop pair for a Rook and a pair with greater activity and the initiative.
If [font color="darkred"]25...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]26.Bc5 Re1 27.Kf2 Rb1 28.Bb4.[/font]

24.Rd7 Kg8 25.Rxb7 Rd8

If [font color="red"]25...a5[/font] then after [font color="red"]26.Be1! a4 27.Bc3 a3 28.Bf1 Rc5 29.Bb4[/font] Black's a-pawn falls after the Rook evacuates from c5.

[center]BLACK: Thal Abergel[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurent Fressinet[/center][center]Position after 25...Ra8d8[/center]

26.Bd7!

The Bishop blocks the Rook's access to a beautiful open file.

26...Rc2

A little more stubborn is [font color="red"]26...Rc1+ 27.Kg2[/font] when:

[font color="red"]27...c5 28.Kf3 h5 29.Be3 Ra1 30.a3 Rd1 31.Ba4[/font] gives White more difficulty carrying out a winning plan, although a coordinated attack on f7 is still the plan.
If [font color="darkred"]27...Rd1[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]28.Bxc6 R1d2 29.Kf3 h5 30.Ba4 R8d6 31.Be3[/font] when he will be able to effectively attack White's pawns.

27.Be1 c5 28.Ba5 Ra8 29.Bc3 Kf8 30.Bf6 Rd2 31.Ba4 1-0

If [font color="red"]31...c4 32.Rc7 h5 33.Kf1 Rd3 34.Kg2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34...Rd5 35.Kh3 Rb8 36.Rxc4 Rf5 37.Bc3 Rd5 38.Rc7[/font] gives White a material advantage and active piece tightening a noose around the Black King.
If [font color="darkred"]34...Rd2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]35.Kh3 Kg8 36.Rxc4.[/font]

If [font color="blue"]31...Rd3[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]32.Kg2 Rd2+ 33.Kh3 c4 34.Rc7 Rd5 35.Rxc4.[/font]
M. Abregal resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

17. Vachier Lagrave (Clichy) - Fargère (Grasse), Round 4

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:21 AM

Jul 2012

[center]

Maxime Vachier Lagrave
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Brittle Heaven (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brittle_heaven) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maxime_Vachier-Lagrave) (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Maxime Vachier Lagrave (Clichy) - François Fargère (Grasse)
French Team Championship, Round 4/Board 1
Belfort, 3 June 2012

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Godena Opening

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.b3 Bb4 7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 Bd6 10.e4 dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.d5 Nc5 13.Bg5 Bg4 (N)

For everything up to here, see Gelfand-Anand, World Ch Match, Moscow, 2012
If [font color="red"]13...h6 14.Bh4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Bg4 15.Rc1 cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Nxd5 Qd8 18.Bb1 Rc8 19.Ne3 Bxf3[/font] gives Black better pawns and a fair advantage in space (Sulashvili-Vysochin, Op, Istanbul, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]16.cxd5 b5 17.h3 Bd7 18.Re1[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.

[font color="darkred"]14...g5 15.Bg3 Bg4 16.Re1 Qe7 17.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Uhlmann-Ushenina, TM, Marianske Lazne, 2008).

14.h3

The game is equal.

14...Bxf3!?

Black helps White develop a piece.
[font color="red"]14...Bh5 15.Qe2 Rc8 16.Rab1 h6 17.Bh4[/font] remains equal.

15.Qxf3!

White has a small advantage in space.

15...h6!?

Black does better to break the pin on the Knight.
If [font color="red"]15...Be7 16.Rad1 cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.exd5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]17.cxd5!? Nxd5! 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Bxa6 Qc7 20.Bc4 Ra3[/font] is equal.

16.Bh4!?

White still has a small advantage in space.
[font color="red"]16.Bxf6! Qxf6 17.Qxf6 gxf6 18.Rad1 Kg7 19.Rfe1[/font] when White has a small adavatage in space after dealing structural damage to Black's kingside.

16...Be7 17.Rfd1!? Nfd7!? 18.Bg3!

White has a small advantage in space.

18...Bg5 19.Rab1 Qa5 20.Bf1!?

White does better to keep his e-pawn overportected.
[font color="red"]20.Bc2 Rfe8 21.Rb2 Rad8 22.h4 Bf4 23.Ne2[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

20...Rae8!

The game is equal.

[center]BLACK: François Fargère[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 20...Ra8e8[/center]

21.Rxb7?!

The exchange sacrifice proves unsound.
Better for White is protect his a-pawn and then pile up on Black's b-pawn: [font color="red"]21.Rb2! cxd5 22.Nxd5 Re6 23.h4 Be7 24.Bd3[/font] remains equal.

21...Nxb7!

Black has the exchange for a pawn.

22.dxc6 Ndc5 23.cxb7 Nxb7 24.Rd5

[font color="red"]24.Rd7!? Nc5 25.Rd5[/font] transposes into the note to Black's 24th move.

24...Qc7!?

Black takes aim at Black's c-pawn.
Better is to blockade the pawn: [font color="red"]24...Nc5! 25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.Rxe5 Bf6 27.Qf5 Bxe5 28.Qxe5[/font] continues to give Black the material edge. Key to keeping his advantage is the blockade on the c-pawn.

25.Qf5!

The game is equal: Black still has the exchange for a pawn, but White has a small advantage in space.

25...g6

[font color="red"]25...Bf6[/font] (overprotecting the keystone pawn) [font color="red"]26.Rd1 Nd6 27.Qg4 Re6 28.Nd5 Qa5[/font] (White regroups; there is no longer any point in maintaining pressure on the e-pawn)

26.Qd7 Qxd7 27.Rxd7 Re7

[font color="red"]27...Nc5 28.Rd5 Nb7 29.Rd7 Nc5 etc.[/font] draws.

28.Rxe7 Bxe7 29.Bxe5

White still has a passed pawn for the exchange, but can't advance it.

[center]BLACK: François Fargère[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 29.Bg3e5:p[/center]

29...f6 30.Bf4 Kg7 31.Nd5

An attempt to advance the pawn would backfire on White.
[font color="red"]31.Na4?![/font] loses a tempo to [font color="red"]31...Nc5! 32.Nc3 Rd8 33.Be3 Rb8[/font] Black has a fair advantage in space.

31...Bc5!

As long as Black can keep White's passed pawn blockaded or restrained, he has at least a slight advantage.

32.Nc7

If [font color="red"]32.g3 Bd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]33.Nc7 Nc5 34.Bd6 Rc8 35.Bxc5 Bxc5 36.Nxa6[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.
[font color="darkred"]33.Kg2 Nc5 34.Bd6 Rc8 35.f3 Rc6 36.Bc7 Nb7[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

32...Rc8 33.Nxa6 Ra8!?

Black skewers a not very important pawn.
If [font color="red"]33...Bd6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34.Be3 Rc6 35.c5 Nxc5 36.Bxc5 Bxc5 37.Bb5 Re6[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage with an active Rook.
[font color="darkred"]34.Bxd6?! Nxd6! 35.Bd3 Nxc4 36.a4 Nb2 37.Bb5 Rc1+[/font] gives Black an active Rook in return to allowing White to level the material balance.

[center]BLACK: François Fargère[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 33...Rc8a8[/center]

34.Nxc5!

Not that he has any choice, but White lets him have it.

34...Nxc5 35.e5!

White emerges with two pawns for the exchange and active Bishops. Black's Rook is also active, so we can consider the game equal.

35...fxe5

This is one of many moves at Black's disposal that maintains the equalibrium.
[font color="red"]35...g5 36.Be3 Ne6 37.exf6+ Kxf6 38.g3 Ke5 39.Kg2[/font] remains equal.
If [font color="blue"]35...h5 36.Be3 Ne6 37.exf6+ Kxf6 38.c5 Rxa2 39.Bd3[/font] remains equal.

36.Bxe5+ Kf7 37.Bf4

[font color="red"]37.g3 Ne6 38.Bg2 Rxa2 39.Kf1 g5 40.f4 gxf4 41.gxf4[/font] remains equal.

37...Ne6!?

Black gambles on an unsound pawn sacrifice.
Better is [font color="red"]37...g5 38.Be3 Ne6 39.g3 Rxa2 40.Kg2 Ke7[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: François Fargère[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 37...Nc5e6[/center]

38.Bxh6!

White has a small advantagein that his dark-bound Bishop may come to e3 and assist in the advance of the c-pawn.

38...g5

This attempt to block the Bishop from going to e3 is futile.

39.h4!

White gladly sacrifices a pawn to liberate his Bishop.

39...gxh4 40.Be3 Rxa2 41.Kh2 Nf4?!

Moving the Knight allows the c-pawn to advance.
If [font color="red"]41...Ra1 42.Be2 Ra3 43.Bg4 Ra4 44.Bxe6+ Kxe6 45.c5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

42.c5!

White is better than before and threatens 43.Bc4+, winning the Rook. according to plan.

42...Kf6??

Black drops the Knight.
If [font color="red"]42...Ra4 43.Bb5 Re4 44.Bc6 Rc4 45.f3[/font] gives White a fair game, but a win is a long way off.

[center]BLACK: François Fargère[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Maxime Vachier Lagrave[/center][center]Position after 42...Kf7f6[/center]

43.Bxf4!

Zap!

43...Rxf2 44.c6 1-0

If [font color="red"]44...Rxf1[/font] then the pawn queens shortly after [font color="red"]45.c7.[/font]
M. Fargère resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

18. L. Delrome (Marseille) - Benmesbah (Chalons), Round 7

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 04:27 AM

Jul 2012

WIM Natacha Benmesbah scored 9 points out of ten games for runners up Chalons.

[center][/center]

[center]There is no photo of Natacha Benmesbah available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
[/font]

Laurie Delorme (Marseille) - Natacha Benmesbah (Chalons)
French Team Championship, Round 7/Board 8
Belfort, 6 June 2012

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Main Line) (Modern Benoni)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Bf4

For an overview of the Tal-Indian, or Modern Benoni, see Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

7...a6 8.e4 Bg7 9.Qa4+

If [font color="red"]9.a4 Bg4 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Qe7 13.Re1 Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.a5 Rab8 15.Qc2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Ne8 16.Be2 Nc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Bd2 b5 18.axb6 Rxb6 19.Nd1 Nb5 20.Bxb5 axb5 21.Ra7 Rfb8 22.Bc3 R6b7 23.Ra6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Rb6 24.Ra1 c4 25.f4 Qf8 26.Nf2 Ra8 27.Rad1[/font] is equal (Inarkiev-Lupulescu, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]23...Ne5 24.f4 Nc4 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Nf2 Nb6 27.Raa1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Hjelm-Ornstein, Swedish ChT, Elitserien, 2010).

[font color="darkpink"]17.Bf1 b5 18.axb6 Rxb6 19.Na4 Rb7 20.Bd2 Nb5[/font] is equal (Vukic-Tringov, IT, Borovo, 1980).

If [font color="darkred"]15...b5 16.axb6 Rxb6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Ra2 Ne8 18.Rea1 Nc7 19.Be2 Rfb8 20.Bc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gupta-Ravi, Indian Ch, Visakhapatnam, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]17.Be2 Rfb8 18.Ra2 Ne5 19.h3 Nfd7 20.Be3 Rb4 21.Rb1 c4 22.Rxa6[/font] wins a pawn for White (Fedorowicz-Gulamali, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).

[font color="burgundy"]14.Qd2 Rfe8 15.a5 h5 16.h3 Nh7 17.Be2 Rac8 18.Bf1 Qf6 19.Rac1 g5 20.Be3 g4[/font] draw (Tukmakov-Spraggett, IT, Barcelona, 1993).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.Nd2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Nh5 14.Be3 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.a5 Bd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.g4 Nhf6 17.f3 b5 18.axb6 Nxb6 19.Nd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...Nbxd5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nc4 f5 22.f4 fxg4[/font] is equal (Korchnoi-Dr. Nunn, IT, London, 1980).
If [font color="magenta"]19...h5 20.h3!?[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]20...Nbxd5! 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Nc4 Rb8 23.Ra3 Rb4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Rajkovic-deFirmian, IT, Vrsac, 1983).
[font color="darkorange"]20...hxg4!? 21.hxg4 Nfxd5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Nc4[/font] draw (W. Schmidt-Cabrilo, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1981).

[font color="burgundy"]16.g3 Rb8 17.Rfc1 Nhf6 18.f3 b5 19.axb6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vladimirov-Bannik, Soviet ChT, Leningrad, 1962).

If [font color="magenta"]15.g4 Nhf6 16.f3 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.a5 b5 18.axb6 Nxb6 19.Kh1 Qb7 20.Ra3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Z, Franco, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1983).
[font color="darkorange"]17.Kh1 Rab8 18.a5 h6 19.Bf4 Ne5 20.Bg3[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Tukmakov-Vranesic, IT, Toronto, 1990).

If [font color="magenta"]12.Qc2 Qc7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.a5 c4 16.Ra4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...Ne5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 Rae8 19.Na3 Nxe4[/font] is equal (Portisch-Kasparov, IT, Tilburg, 1981).
[font color="burgundy"]16...b5 17.axb6 Nxb6 18.Ra5 Nfd7 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Be2[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space (Najdorf-E. Torre, IT, Manila, 1973).

If [font color="darkorange"]15.Rfe1 c4 16.Be2[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]16...Re7 17.Rad1 Rb8 18.a5 Rbe8 19.Rd4 Qxa5 20.Bxd6[/font] is equal (Uhlmann-Portisch, IT 7071, Hastings, 1971).
If [font color="purple"]16...Rac8 17.Rac1[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]17...Rb8 18.Bf1 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.b4 Nh5[/font] gives Black a passed pawn (Najdorf-R. García, IT, Mar del Plata, 1965).
Ifont color="hotpink"]17...Re7 18.Bf1 Rce8 19.Qb1 Nh5 20.Bg5 Re5 21.Be3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tsatsalashvili-Kushka, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).

If [font color="darkorange"]13.Rfe1 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]14.a5 Rab8 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 b5 17.axb6 Rxb6 18.Ra2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Tal-Stein, Soviet ChT, Rostov-on-Don, 1971).
[font color="purple"]14.Nd2?! Bxe2 15.Rxe2 Nh5 16.Be3 Bd4 17.Rf1 Ne5[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Donner-Velimirovic, IT, Amsterdam, 1974).

9...Bd7 10.Qb3 Bc8 11.a4

If [font color="red"]11.Qa4+ Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.Qb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Bc8 13.Qa4+[/font] draws.
If [font color="darkred"]12...Qe7 13.Be2 b5 14.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...0-0 15.e5 dxe5 16.Nxe5 Bf5 17.Bf3[/font] gives White a better center (Khalifman-Psakhis, Soviet Ch ½-final, Sverdlovsk, 1987).
[font color="magenta"]14...Bg4 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxe5 0-0 17.Rfe1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Pekarek-Romanishin, IT, Tbilisi, 1986).

[font color="darkorchid"]12.Qc2 Bg4 13.Nd2 Nh5 14.Be3 0-0 15.h3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Korchnoi-Cebalo, IT, Titograd, 1984).

11...0-0 12.Be2 Qe7

[font color="red"]12...Nh5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Be3 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Ng5[/font] gives White more space and a lead in development (Tarjan-Agzamov, IT, Vrsac, 1983).

13.Nd2 Nbd7 14.0-0 Ne8 (N)

If [font color="red"]14...Rb8 15.h3 Ne8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Nc4 f5 17.exf5 Rxf5 18.Bg3 Ne5 19.Rae1[/font] gives White potent threats in the center and a fair advantage in space (Olszewski-Margvelashvili, Puerto Madryn ,2009).
[font color="darkred"]16.Rfe1 Nc7 17.Nc4 Ne5 18.Nb6 f5 19.Nxc8 Rfxc8 20.exf5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space (Bravo-Infante, Iberoamérica Ch, Quito, Ecuador, 2012).

15.Rae1

White has a fair advantage in space.

15...Ne5?!

Before blocking the center with the Knight, Black should active her dark-bound Bishop.
[font color="red"]15...Bd4 16.Nc4 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Rd1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Natacha Benmesbah[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurie Delorme[/center][center]Position after 15...Nd7e5[/center]

16.Nc4?!

White fails to get the most out of Black's misplay.
If [font color="red"]16.Bg3! Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.f4 Bd4+ 18.Bf2 h5 19.Nc4 Nef6 20.e5[/font] gives White more freedom and a substantial advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]17...Nc7 18.a5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Bd4+ 19.Bf2 Rb8 20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Na4 Qd8 22.Qb4[/font] gives White stronger pawns, more activity and a mammoth advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]18...Nb5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]19.Nxb5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Rxa5 21.Nc4 Bd4+ 22.Kh1[/font] when she has a concentration of force on the queenside, more freedom and more space.

16...Rb8?! 17.a5?! Nxc4!

White still has a small advantage in space.

18.Bxc4 b5?!

Black's queenside is cramped, but this isn't the way to break out..
[font color="red"]18...Qc7 19.Qa2 b5 20.axb6 Qxb6 21.Na4 Qc7 22.b3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space; Black succeds in giving herself breathing room on the queenside.

19.axb6!

Black's queenside is more cramped than ever with a dagerous passed sitting in the middle of it.

19...Qd8 20.Na4! Bd7 21.Re2?!

This move doesn't seem to have any relation to White's advantage on the queenside.
[font color="red"]21.b7! Bxa4 22.Qxa4 Rxb7 23.b3 Rb6 24.e5[/font] continues to give White a comforable advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Natacha Benmesbah[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurie Delorme[/center][center]Position after 21.Re1e2[/center]

21...Bxa4!

White is reduced to a small advantage in space.

22.Qxa4 Rxb6 23.Bxa6

[font color="red"]23.b3 Nc7 24.e5 Nb5 25.Ree1 dxe5 26.Bxe5 Bxe5 27.Rxe5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

23...Rb4

[font color="red"]23...Bxb2 24.Bd3 Bd4 25.Rb1 Rxb1+ 26.Bxb1 Nf6[/font] is equal.

24.Qa2 Qb6?!

The Queen is more effective at d8.
[font color="red"]24...Nc7 25.Bd3 Qf6 26.Be3 c4 27.Rc2 cxd3 28.Rxc7[/font] is equal.

25.Bc4!

White sets up a blockade on Black's pawn, which will soon be passed.

25...Bxb2?!

Black takes the pawn with the wrong piece. The Black Rook's freedom is restricted.
[font color="red"]25...Rxb2 26.Rxb2 Qxb2 27.Qxb2 Bxb2 28.Rb1 Bd4[/font] gives White more freedom and space; Black's hopes of counterplay rest in her passed pawn, but it is blockaded for now.

[center]BLACK: Natacha Benmesbah[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurie Delorme[/center][center]Position after 25...Bg7b2:p[/center]

26.Bd2!

White wins at least the exchange.

26...Bd4

Not much different is [font color="red"]26...Be5 27.Bxb4 cxb4 28.g3 Kg7 29.Rb1.[/font]

27.Bxb4 cxb4

Black's compensation for the exchange is a passed pawn, but Black's pieces will have to come to life to make the passer count.

28.Qa6!

Black must exchange queens in circumstances favorable to White to avoid the loss of a pawn.

28...Qxa6 29.Bxa6 Nf6

[font color="red"]29...Bc3 30.Bb5 Nf6 31.Rb1 Rb8 32.Bc6[/font] continues to leave White up by the exchange; Black has the possibility of counterplay with her passed pawn.

30.Bd3?!

The time is now to begin actions against the passed pawn.
If [font color="red"]30.Rd1! Bc3 31.g3 Rb8 32.Rb1 Nd7 33.Kg2[/font] still leaves White up by the exchange with Black's chances for counterplay reduced for the time being..

30...b3!

Black seizes the opportunity and advances the pawn.

31.Rb1 Rb8 32.Rbb2?

White needlessly proffers the exchange in order to stop the pawn.
If [font color="red"]32.Rc2 Ng4 33.h3 Ne5 34.Kf1 Kg7 35.Rd2[/font] continues to give White the exchange, but Black has a huge advantage in space and is pressing with her passed pawn.

[center]BLACK: Natacha Benmesbah[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Laurie Delorme[/center][center]Position after 32.Rb1b2[/center]

32...Bxb2!

Black gladly takes this opportunity.

33.Rxb2 Nd7 34.f3

If [font color="red"]34.f4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]34...Nc5 35.Bb1 Na4 36.Re2 b2 37.Re3 Rc8!.[/font]

34...Nc5 35.Be2

White is now hopelessly lost.The Rook will need all the space it can have along the second rank, and, more importantly, the Bishop is now out of contact with the queening square.
More stubborn is [font color="red"]35.Bb1 Na4 36.Re2 Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37.Re1 b2 38.h4 Ra8 39.Bd3 Ra1[/font] wins for Black.
If [font color="darkred"]37.Rb2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]37...Kg7 38.g3 Na4 39.Rg2 Rc8 40.Kf2 b2.[/font]

35...Na4!

Black gains a tempo on the Rook.

36.Rd2

If [font color="red"]36.Rb1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]36...Nc3 37.Rb2 Nxe2+ 38.Rxe2 b2.[/font]

36...b2

Black's remaining moves give her command of the light squares, giving the Bishop no quarter.

37.Bd3 Rb3 38.Bb1 Rc3 39.Kf2 Rc1 40.Bd3 Nc5 0-1

Mlle. Delrome resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

21. Kransenkow (Chalons) - Koch (Metz), Round 10

Mon Jul 2, 2012, 05:39 PM

Jul 2012

Michal Krasenkow was born in Moscow and emigrated to Poland shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union.

[center][/center]

[center]Michal Krasenkow[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Pawel Suwarski in Wikipedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Krasenkow_Michal.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Michal Krasenkow (Chalons) - Jean-Rene Koch (Metz)
French Team Championship, Round 10/Board 4
Belfort, 9 June 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.dxc5

[font color="red"]6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0,[/font] as devised by the great Akiba Rubinstein, is the Main Line of the Normal Defense, as Dr. Tarrasch himself called it, or the Tarrasch Defense, as it is generally called. See the[font color="darkred"]maroon notes[/font] to Black' fourth move (the game [font color="darkred"]Kasparov-Illescas[/font] and related lines) in Vachier Lagrave-Salgado López, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

6...d4 7.Na4

[font color="red"]7.Ne4 Bf5 8.Ng3 Bg4 9.Qc2 Nf6 10.h3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Bareev-Lobron, IT, Dortmund, 1995).

7...Bxc5 8.Nxc5 Qa5+ 9.Bd2

If [font color="red"]9.Qd2 Qxc5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.e3 dxe3 11.Qxe3+ Qxe3+ 12.Bxe3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Nge7 13.Bc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...0-0 14.0-0 Bg4 15.Ng5 h6 16.Ne4 Rfd8 17.Rfe1[/font] is equal (Knaak-Chandler, Bundesliga 9596, Germany, 1996).
If [font color="darkred"]13...Be6 14.Bxe6 fxe6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Ng5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Kd7?! 16.0-0-0+! Nd5 17.Rhe1[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Knaak-Petursson, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).
[font color="darkorange"]15...e5 16.Rc1 Nf5 17.0-0 0-0 18.g4 Nfd4 19.Kg2[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]15.Ke2 Nd5 16.Rac1 Ke7 17.Nd4 Nxd4+ 18.Bxd4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]12...Nf6!?[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.Bc5!? Ne4 14.Ba3 Be6 15.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Nd6?! 16.Ng5 0-0-0 17.Nxe6 Rhe8 18.0-0-0 Rxe6 19.Bxh7[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (D. Gurevich-Messa, IT, Lugano, 1985).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Nf6! 16.b3 0-0-0 17.0-0-0 Kc7 18.Bb2 Ng4[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]13.Bb5! Bd7 14.0-0 a6 15.Bc4 0-0 16.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]10.a3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...a5?! 11.b4 Qb6 12.Qg5 Nge7 13.b5 h6 14.Qxg7[/font] gives White more and stronger pawns (Buckley-Milovanovic, 4NCL, Hinckley Island, 2011).
[font color="magenta"]10...a6?! 11.b4 Qd5 12.Bb2 Bg4 13.Nxd4 Rd8 14.Rd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and power in the center(Sarkar-Jiang, US Op, Orlando, Florida, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]10...Nge7 11.b4 Qb6 12.e3 Be6 13.Qb2 Rc8 14.Bd3[/font] gives White little more than a slight advantage (Fritz).

9...Qxc5 10.Rc1

[font color="red"]10.e3 dxe3 11.Bxe3 Qb4+ 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Nxd2[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Grünfeld-Dr. Tarrasch, IT, Teplitz-Schonau, 1922).

10...Qb6 11.e3 Nf6 12.Bc4 dxe3!? (N)

If [font color="red"]12...0-0 13.0-0 Bg4 14.exd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Nxd4?! 15.Be3! Bxf3 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.Bxd4[/font] gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space (Meek-Thornton, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
[font color="darkred"]14...Rac8 15.Re1 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Qxd4 17.Qf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

13.Bxe3

White has a fair advantage in space.

13...Qb4+ 14.Kf1!?

White voluntarily presents himself some difficulty developing his King's Rook. It remains entombed for some time..
Better is [font color="red"]14.Qd2 Qxd2+[/font] when:

[font color="red"]15.Kxd2 Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Ng5[/font] weakens Black's pawns and give White a target on e6.
[font color="darkred"]15.Bxd2?! 0-0 16.Be3 Re8! 17.0-0[/font gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Jean-Rene Koch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Michal Krasenkow[/center][center]Position after 14.Ke1f1[/center]

14...Be6 15.Bxe6

[font color="red"]15.Qe2!? Rd8! 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.h4 Rd5[/font] gives Black active heavy pieces.

@15...fxe6 16.Qe2 Qa5 17.Ng5!?

Attacking the weak pawn is premature. White should first look to the weaknesses in his own position.
[font color="red"]17.b3[/font] (protecting the a-pawn) [font color="red"]17...0-0 18.Bc5 Rfe8 19.g3[/font] (preparing to free the imprisoned Rook) [font color="red"]19...Rad8 20.Kg2[/font] gives White a small advantage.

17...Qxa2!

The game is equal.
If [font color="red"]17...0-0 18.Nxe6 Rfe8 19.Rc5 Qxa2 20.Nc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...Qb1+! 21.Qe1 Qd3+ 22.Qe2 Qb1+ etc.[/font] draws.
If [font color="darkred"]20...Qa1+?! 21.Qe1! Qxb2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.Qc1 Qxc1+ 24.Rxc1 a5 25.Ke2[/font] frees the Rook; Black has only a pawn for the exchange.
[font color="magenta"]22.Qc1 Qxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Rxe3 24.fxe3 Rc8 25.Nb5[/font] allows White to free the Rook and gives him the material advantage and more freedom overall.

18.Qb5!?

White's plan to capture the b-pawn is dubious.
If [font color="red"]18.b4 Qxe2+ 19.Kxe2[/font] (freeing the Rook) [font color="red"]19...Kd7 20.Rhd1+ Nd5 21.b5 Nce7[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Jean-Rene Koch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Michal Krasenkow[/center][center]Position after 18.Qe2b5[/center]

18...0-0!!

Black has a comfortable advantage as a result of this pawn sacrifice.

19.Qxb7 Rac8 20.Kg1?!

The King should remains at f1 to guard e2.
If [font color="red"]20.Nf3 Ng4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21.h3 Nxe3+ 22.fxe3 Qd5 23.Kf2 Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Qxc6 Rxf3+ 25.gxf3 Rxb2+ 26.Rc2 Qxc6 27.Rxb2 h5[/font] leaves Black with a slight material advantage and a remote passed pawn.
[font color="burgundy"]24.Rhd1[/font] drops a Rook to [font color="burgundy"]24...Qxd1 25.Rxd1 Rxb7.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]21.Kg1?! Qd5![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Qa6 Qd7 23.Rc3 Nxe3 24.Rxe3 Nd4 25.h4 Rc1+[/font] gives Black clear superiority.
If [font color="magenta"]22.Bf4 Rcd8 23.h3 Rf7 24.Qa6 Nb4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]25.Qa3 Nxf2 26.Qxb4 (26.Kxf2 Nd3+ 27.Kg1 Nxc1 28.Bxc1 Rc8 29.Bd2 Rc2) 26...Nd3[/font] wins White's active Rook.
[font color="darkorange"]25.Qf1 Nxf2 26.Qxf2 Nd3[/font] fork's the active Rook.

20...Qd5?!

Black fails to exploit White's inaccurate play.
If [font color="red"]20...Ng4![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21.h4 h6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22.Ne4 Nxe3 23.fxe3 Qd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Ng3 Ne7 25.Rc7 Rb8 26.Qxd5 Nxd5 27.Rxa7 Nxe3[/font] Black threatens to win a pawn and White's King's Rook remains entombed.
If [font color="darkred"]24.Nf2? Nd4 25.Qxc8[/font] then:

Black wins after [font color="darkred"]25...Ne2+!! 26.Kf1 Ng3+ 27.Kg1 Nxh1 28.e4 Qe5.[/font]
[font color="magenta"]25...Rxc8?? 26.Rxc8+ Kh7 27.exd4! Qxd4 28.Rc3[/font] gives White a clear material advantage.

[font color="darkorchid"]22.Nf3 Qd5 23.Qa6 Nb4 24.Qxc8 Rxc8 25.Rxc8+ Kh7[/font] gives Black an active for two Rooks, one of whis is active and the other is still entombed.

If [font color="darkred"]21.Bc5 Nd4![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.g3 Rxc5 23.Rxc5 Nxf2[/font] wins the exchange.
If [font color="magenta"]22.Bxf8??[/font] then [font color="magenta"]22...Rxc1#.[/font]

21.h3!

Black is cut to a slight advantage.

21...h6 22.Nf3 Qd7!?

Even with only a slight advantage in space, Black should not be so anxious to exchange Queens.
If [font color="red"]22...Ne4![/font] (depriving the White Queen of an escape route along the b-file) [font color="red"]23.Qa6 Nb4 24.Qxc8 Rxc8 25.Rxc8+ Kh7[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.

23.Qxd7!

The Queen exchange leaves White with a fair advantage in space; his only problem now is activating the entombed Rook.

23...Nxd7

[center]BLACK: Jean-Rene Koch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Michal Krasenkow[/center][center]Position after 23...Nf6d7:Q[/center]

24.Kh2!

The Rook is activated.

24...Nf6

If [font color="red"]24...a6 25.Rhd1 Nde5 26.Rd6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]26...Nxf3+ 27.gxf3 Nb4 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rxe6[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but his own pawns are weak.
If [font color="darkred"]26...Kf7?! 27.Kg3![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]27...Nxf3 28.Rdxc6 Rxc6 29.Rxc6 Ne1 30.Rxa6 e5 31.Ra5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more effective pieces.
[font color="magenta"]27...g5 28.Rdxc6 Nxc6 29.Rxc6 Rxc6 30.Ne5+ Kf6 31.Nxc6[/font] gives White two active minor pieces for a Rook.

[font color="blue"]24...Nb6?![/font] allows White to force Black's better Rook into passivity after [font color="red"]25.Bxb6! axb6 26.Rhe1 Rfe8.[/font]

25.Rc4 Nd5 26.Re1 a5

If [font color="red"]26...Rfe8 27.Bd2 Nce7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rxe6 Rc2 30.b3 Rb2 31.b4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.
[font color="darkred"]28.Ra4 Nc6 29.Rc1 e5 30.Rac4 e4 31.Nh4[/font] gives White a threat to win a piece.

27.Bd2 Ncb4

If [font color="red"]27...Nce7!? 28.Rxc8! Rxc8 29.Rxe6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...Rb8 30.Ra6 Rxb2 31.Rxa5 g5 32.g4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]29...Rc2 30.b3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]30...Kf7 31.Rd6 Rb2 32.Bxa5 Rxb3 33.Ne5+ Kg8 34.Bd8[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="magenta"]30...Rb2 31.Ra6 Rxb3 32.Rxa5 Rd3 33.Ra8+ Kh7 34.Rd8[/font] gives White an extra pawn and activity for his Rook and Bishop; Black's pieces must move cautiously.

28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rxe6

White is a pawn to the good.

29...Rc2 30.Re8+ Kf7?!

Black wants his King activated toward the center, but his King at f7 is open to attack.
[font color="red"]30...Kh7 31.b3 Rb2 32.Re5 Rxb3 33.Bxb4 Nxb4 34.Rxa5[/font] leaves White a pawn to the good, but Black has as many active pieces as White and the pawns are all on the same side of the board, factors which favor the defender.

[center]BLACK: Jean-Rene Koch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Michal Krasenkow[/center][center]Position after 30...Kg8f7[/center]

31.Ra8!

White gives his Rook its maximum checking distance.

31...Rxb2?!

[font color="red"]31...Nc6 32.Bxa5 Rxb2 33.Ra6 Nxa5 34.Ne5+ Ke7 35.Rxa5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the initiative, but Black still has reasonable drawing chances.

32.Rxa5!

White threatens 33Rb5 with a deadly pin.

32...Ke6

Black meets the threat.

33.Ra7

Also good is [font color="red"]33.Nd4+ Kf6 34.Bxb4[/font] when:

[font color="red"]34...Nxb4 35.Rf5+ Ke7 36.Re5+ Kf7 37.Rb5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more freedom.
If [font color="darkred"]34...Rxb4?[/font] then [font color="darkred"]35.Rxd5! Rb2 36.Kg3[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.

33...Kf6 34.Rd7 Rc2 35.g4 Rc5

[font color="red"]35...Rc4[/font] drops another pawn to [font color="red"]36.g5+ hxg5 37.Bxg5+[/font] when:

[font color="red"]37...Ke6 38.Rxg7[/font] gives White two extra pawns.
[font color="darkred"]37...Kf5 38.Rf7+ Nf6 39.Rxg7[/font] gives White two extra pawns.

36.h4 Nd3?

This straw breaks the camel's back.
If [font color="red"]36...Nc6 37.Kg2 Nce7 38.Rd6+ Kf7 39.Ne5+ Ke8 40.Kf3[/font] leaves Black still on his feet, but not too steady.

37.Kg3!

See how easily the last move is refuted.

37...Nb2

There's nothing better.
[font color="red"]37...g5 38.hxg5+ hxg5 39.Nxg5[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good.

[center]BLACK: Jean-Rene Koch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Michal Krasenkow[/center][center]Position after 37...Nd3b2[/center]

38.Rxd5!!

Black sacriofices the exchange to reach a won ending.

38...Rxd5 39.Bc3+

The sacrifice was a sham. White wins the other Knight, too.
Overall, in addition to an extra pawn, White has two minor pieces for a Rook.

39...Kf7 40.Bxb2 Rb5 41.Bd4 g6 42.Kf4 Kg8

If [font color="red"]42...Ke6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]43.Ke4 Rb1 44.g5 hxg5 45.hxg5.[/font]

43.Ne5 Rb4

If [font color="red"]43...Kg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]44.Ke4 Kf6 45.f4 Rb1 46.Nc4+.[/font]

44.Ke4 Kh7 45.f4 Ra4

If [font color="red"]45...Rb3 46.f5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]46...gxf5+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]47.gxf5 Rh3 48.f6 Rxh4+ 49.Kd5 Rf4 50.Nd3.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]46...g5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]47.hxg5 hxg5 48.f6 Rb8 49.Kf5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Jean-Rene Koch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Michal Krasenkow[/center][center]Position after 45...Rb4a4[/center]

46.f5!

White creates a passed pawn.

46...gxf5+ 47.gxf5 Ra6 48.Ng4 Ra2

If [font color="red"]48...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]49.Ne5 Kg8 50.Nf3 Kf7 51.Ng5+ Ke7 52.f6+.[/font]

49.Kd5 Rg2

If [font color="red"]49...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]50.Nf6+ Kg7 51.Ke6 Ra4 52.Be5.[/font]

50.Nf6+ Kg7 51.Ke6 Re2+ 52.Be5 1-0

If [font color="red"]52...Kf8[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]53.Nd5 Re1 54.h5 Ke8 55.f6 Re2 56.Nf4[/font] Black must give up the Rook just to stop the f-pawn.
M. Koch resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

22. Russian Championship Higher League, Tyumen

Sun Jul 8, 2012, 05:22 PM

Jul 2012

[center][/center]

[center]Tyumen is the oldest Russian settlement in Siberia, founded in 1586[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Dmitry Koshelov in Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

23. Andreikin - I. Popov, Round 6

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #22)

Sun Jul 8, 2012, 05:23 PM

Jul 2012

[center]

&feature=relmfu[/center]

[center]Dmitry Andeikin (right) playing blitz against Gata Kamsky, Moscow, 2011[/center][font size="1"]Posted on YouTube by Sergey Sorokhtin
[/font]

Dmitry Andreikin - Ivan Popov
Russian Championships, Higher League, Round 6
Tyumen, 21 June 2012

Open Sicilian Royal Game: Dragon Defense (Maroczy Opening)

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.e4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6

This position could arise from the Dragon Defense of an Open Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Royal Game: Dragon Defense (Maroczy Opening)[/center][center]Position after 6...Nf6[/center]

7.Nc3 Ng4

Most common is [font color="red"]7...0-0 8.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...d6 9.0-0 Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.Be3 a5 14.b3 Nc5 15.Qd2 Qb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Nb5 Rfc8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Kh1 Qd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.Rfd1 Qf8 19.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...b6 20.Nd5 Rab8 21.Qe1 Rb7 22.Qh4 h5[/font] draw (Tseshkovsky-Pavlovic, Yugoslav ChT, Tivat, 1995).
[font color="burgundy"]19...Nd7 20.Nd5 a4 21.b4 a3 22.Bg5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 b6 24.Be3[/font] gives White a significant advantage in space (Christiansen-Pekarek, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1992).

[font color="darkpink"]18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Rfd1 h5 20.Bf1 Kh7 21.Ne2[/font] is equal (Lenic-Le Quang Liem, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

If [font color="darkred"]17.Rfd1 Qd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18.Bf1 Qf8 19.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...b6 20.Nd5 Rab8 21.Rb1 Be5 22.Bh6 Bg7 23.Bg5 Rb7 24.Re1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Sax-M. Petursson, World Cup, Reyjakvik, 1988).
If [font color="magenta"]19...Qd8 20.Qf2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20...b6 21.Qd2 Ra7 22.Rb1 Bd7 23.Nd5 Bc6 24.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vaganian-S. B. Hansen, Bundesliga 0506, Germany, 2006).
[font color="darkorange"]20...Qf8 21.Qd2 Qd8 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.cxd5[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Drei-Vezzosi, IT 9900, Reggio Emilia, 2000).

If [font color="magenta"]18.Nd4 Qf8 19.Rb1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19...Bd7 20.Bf1 Be6 21.Nxe6 Nxe6 22.Rbc1 a4 23.Qb4[/font] is equal (A. Petrosian-Bischoff, Op, Schwerin, 1999).
[font color="darkorange"]19...Be5 20.Nxc6 Rxc6 21.f4 Bf6 22.Bf3[/font] gives White the advantage in space and the Bishop pair in a reasonably open game (Borges Mateos-Rivera, Madrid, 1997).

If [font color="darkred"]16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.cxd5 Qb4 18.Rfd1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18...Rfc8 19.Rc4 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 b5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.Rxc5 dxc5 22.Bxb5 Bd4 23.Bxd4 cxd4 24.Bc6[/font] gives White more space, more piece activity and the initiative (Alburt-Savon, Soviet Ch, 1st League, Odessa, 1974).
[font color="darkorange"]21.Rc1 b4 22.Bb5 Bc3 23.Rdc2 Rab8[/font] gives White more space in the center while Black has potential on the queenside. (Simonet-Hoffman, Spanish ChT, Olite, 2006).

[font color="magenta"]18...f5 19.exf5 Rxf5 20.Rc4 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 b5 22.Rcc2 b4 23.Bxc5 dxc5 24.Rxc5[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Aginian-Mrvova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If [font color="burgundy"]13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qd4+ Kg8 15.Rfd1 Qa5 16.a3[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Plachetka-Vokac, Trencianske Teplice, 1985).

[font color="darkpink"]10...a6 11.Nb3 a5 12.f3 a4 13.Nd2 a3 14.b3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Huzman-Nestorovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 a5 13.b3 Nd7 14.Be3 Nc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Rab1 Qb6 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.Rc2 Qd8 18.Bf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18...h5 19.a3 Kh7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]20.b4 21.axb4 Ne6 22.Nd5 Ra3 23.Kh1 Rca8 24.f4 Ra1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]25.Rxa1 Rxa1 26.Rc1 Qa8 27.Bd3 Nd4 28.Rxa1 Qxa1+ 29.Qc1[/font] gives White a slim advantage in space (Zawadzka-Sikorova, FIDE Knock Out W, Ekaterinburg, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]25.Rbc1 Qh8 26.Bd3 Bxd5 27.exd5 Nd4[/font] is equal (Stubberud-E. Lie, Norwegian Ch, Moss, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]20.Ne2[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]20...Qh8 [/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21...b6 22.Kh1 Kg8 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 Nd7 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.cxd5 Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Bd4 28.Qc6[/font] gives White a huge spatial andvantage and the initiative (Bareev-Pavlovic, EU ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
[font color="purple"]21...a4 22.b4 Nb3 23.Qf2 e5 24.Ne2 Bd7 25.Rd1 Be6 26.Nc3 Bxc4 27.Bxc4 Rxc4 28.Nxa4 Rxc2 29.Qxc2[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Kuipers-K. Lie, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).

[font color="darkorange"]20...Ne6 21.Kh1 b5 22.Nc3 b4 23.axb4 axb4 24.Na2 Rxa2 25.Rxa2[/font] gives White the exchange (Psakhis-Savchenko, Aeroflot Op B, Moscow, 2005).

[font color="burgundy"]18...Be5 19.a3 e6 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 Na4 22.Nxa4 Rxa4 23.b5 Be8 24.Rd1[/font] gives White the initiative (Jankovic-Gunnarsson, Op, Reykjavi, 2008).

[font color="darkpink"]15.Rac1[/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]main variation of this note.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]8...b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...e6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qd6 Ne8 13.Qd2 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Rac1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15...Qe7 16.Rfd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Kh8 17.Bf1 Rg8 18.Kh1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Chekhov-Vorobiov, Pripis Mem, Moscow, 2000).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Qh4 17.b4 Rf7 18.Nb5 Be5 19.f4 Rg7 20.Bf1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Woda, IT, Poznan, 1987).

[font color="darkpink"]15...Qh4 16.b4 Rf7 17.Bf4 Nf6 18.Bg5 Qh5 19.Nb5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Balcerowski, Polish ChT, Augustow, 1975).

If [font color="magenta"]11.Qd2 d5 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14...Ne8 15.f4 f6 16.Bd4 fxe5 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.fxe5[/font] gives Whitea fair advantage in space (Gasanov-Guseinov, Op, Alushta, 2001).
If [font color="darkorange"]14...Nd7?! 15.f4![/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]15...f6? 16.Bb5 Bb7 17.e6 Nc5 18.f5[/font] gives White a passed pawn, stronger pawns and a gargantuan advantage in space; she forced Black to capitulate in only a few more moves (Chiburdanidze-Borges Pinal, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1985).
Better is [font color="purple"]15...Nc5 16.Rad1 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qc2[/font] but White still has a strong initiative.

If [font color="magenta"]10...Rc8 11.Qd2 Nh5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12.Rfd1 Ne5 13.b3 f5 14.exf5 gxf5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.Qc2 Qe8 16.Nxf5 Nxf3+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.Kh1 Bxc3 18.Nh6+ Kh8 19.Qxc3+ e5 20.Rf1 Ng3+[/font] White resigns in the face of 21.hxg3 Qh5# (Hole-Barth Sahl, Norwegian Ch, Sandnes, 2005).
If [font color="darkorange"]17.Bxf3 Bxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]18.Nxg7?! Bxd1![/font] (Black will soon have two active Rooks) then:

[font color="darkorange"]19.Nxe8? Bxc2! 20.Nc7 Rxc7 21.Nd5 Rb7 22.Nxe7+ Kf7 23.Nd5[/font] White resigns without waiting for Black to reply (Kreiman-T. Taylor, World Op, Philadelphia, 1992).

[font color="purple"]19.Rxd1 Nxg7 20.Qd2 d6[/font] leaves White with a comfortable advatage.

[font color="hotpink"]18.Rf1 Bc6 19.Rae1 Rf6 20.Ne4 Rxf5 21.Rxf5[/font] leaves White on the verge of winning.

[font color="burgundy"]15.Nd5!? Bxd5 16.cxd5 f4 17.Bf2 Qe8 18.Bd3 Nxd3 19.Qxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sherzer-Edelman, Op, New York, 1993).

If [font color="darkorange"]12.Nc2 d6 13.Rab1 Qd7 14.Rfd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]14...f5!? 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Bh6 Ne5 17.b3 f4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qd4 Kg8 20.Qxe5[/font] Black resigns (So. Polgar-Sosonko, IT, Aruba, 1991).
[font color="purple"]14...Nf6 15.Nb5 h5 16.b3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 Ne6

If [font color="red"]9...e5 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...d6 12.Qd2 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.Rac1 a6 14.b3 Rc8 15.f3 Qa5 16.Rfd1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...f5 17.exf5 Nxf5 18.Be4 Rf7 19.Qe2 Bf8 20.Bf2[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Tal-Partos, Ol, Nice, 1974).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Rfd8 17.Bf1 Rd7 18.Ne2 Qxd2 19.Bxd2 Nc6 20.Be3[/font] (Eames-Hegarty, 4NCL, Sunningdale, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]13.Rad1 a6 14.b3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...Qc7 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Ne2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Bg4 17.f3 Bd7 18.Bb1 b5 19.cxb5 Bxb5 20.Bd3[/font] is equal (Lesiege-Dzindzichashvili, Op, New York, 1993).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Qc5 17.Kh1 Qh5[/font] draw (P. Popovic-Turner, French ChT, Bischwiller, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]14...Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15.Ne2 Nc6 16.Bb1 b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Nc3 Qa5[/font] is equal (Polugaevsky-Piket, Match, Aruba, 1994).
[font color="darkorange"]15.Bb1 b5 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Ne2 bxc4 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 cxb3 20.axb3 Bxb3[/font] leaves Black a pawn to the good (Ftacnik-Sermek, Ol, Moscow, 1994).

[font color="darkorchid"]11...b6 12.a4 Bb7 13.Nb5 f5 14.Nd6 Bc6 15.exf5[/font] is equal (Neubauer-Bach, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

10.Qd2 Qa5

If [font color="red"]10...d6 11.Be2 Bd7 12.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...0-0 13.Rac1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Bc6 14.f3 a5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.b3 Nc5 16.Rfd1 Qb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Rb1 Qb4 18.Rdc1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Rfc8 19.Nd5 Qxd2 20.Bxd2 Bxd5 21.cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...a4 22.b4 Nb3 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Be3 Rc2[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Grötz-Plachetka, IT, Leipzig, 2002).
[font color="burgundy"]21...Bd4+ 22.Kf1 e5 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.Bc4 Kf7 25.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sandalakis-Sikanjic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

[font color="darkpink"]18...a4 19.Bd1 axb3 20.axb3 Rfc8 21.Kf1 Be5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Miroshnichenko-Evdokimov, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

[font color="darkorchid"]17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.cxd5 Rfc8 19.Rc2 Qb4 20.Rdc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Adam-Boehmer, IT, Vancouver, BC, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]15.Rfd1 Nc5 16.b3 b6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Bd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 Qb8 19.f4 Qb7 20.Nd5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Cvetkovic-Velimirovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1992).
[font color="magenta"]17.Bf1 Ra7 18.Qf2 e6 19.a3 Qb8 20.Nb5[/font] (W. Schmidt-Szymczak, Polish Ch, Zielona Gora, 1974).

[font color="darkpink"]13...Nc5 14.f3 Na4 15.Nd1 a5 16.b3 Nc5 17.Nc3[/font]gives White a slight advantage in space (Evans-Kupper, IT, Venice, 1967).

[font color="darkorchid"]12...Qa5 13.Rac1 Bc6[/font] transposes into the notes to Black's twelfth move.

11.Rc1 d6

If [font color="red"]11...b6 12.Be2 Bb7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.f3 g5 14.0-0 h5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Rfd1 d6 16.Nd5 Qxd2 17.Rxd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17...h4 18.b4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...Be5 19.a4 f6 20.Ra2 Kf7 21.Rd1 Nf4 22.Bf1[/font] is equal (W. Schmidt-Kuczynski, Polish Ch, Slupsk, 1988).
If [font color="darkred"]18...Rc8 19.a4 Be5 20.Rdc2?! Nf4?! 21.Nxf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21...Bxf4?! 22.Bxf4! gxf4 23.c5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Ziane-van den Bers, Op, Gent, 1993).
[font color="magenta"]21...gxf4 22.Bf2 Bc6 23.c5 dxc5 24.bxc5 Bxa4 25.Ra2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[font color="burgundy"]17...Be5 18.b4 Rc8 19.a4 h4 20.Bf1 f6 21.Ra2[/font] is euqal (Wolff-Miles, Op, Philadelphia, 1987).

[font color="darkpink"]15.a3 Qe5 16.Rfd1 d6 17.b4 Kf8 18.Bf1[/font] gives White a small advantage with a better center (Rogers-Antonio, IT, Cebu, 1992).

[font color="darkorchid"]13.0-0 Bxc3 14.Rxc3 Bxe4 15.Rd1 d6 16.Bd4 0-0[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Chekhov-Zaitshik, IT, East Berlin, 1988).

12.Be2

[font color="red"]12.Bd3 Bd7 13.0-0 Bc6 14.Bb1 g5 15.Rfd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Kozhuharov-Cvetkov, Bulgarian Ch, Tsarevo, 2001).

12...Nc5 (N)

If [font color="red"]12...Bd7 13.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Bc6 14.f3 g5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.a3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Be5 16.b4 Qxa3 17.b5 Bd7 18.Nd5 Rg8 19.Rc2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Litinskaya-Sedina, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1992).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Qe5 16.Rfd1 a5 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 Ra3 19.Nb1[/font] is equal (Limontaite-Schuurman, Euro ChTW, Goteborg, 2005).

[font color="darkpink"]15.b3 h5 16.Nd5 Qxd2 17.Bxd2 Bd4+ 18.Kh1 a5[/font] is equal (Mohd Omar-van den Berg, Op, Vlissingen, Holland, 2007).

If [font color="darkred"]13...Nc5 14.f3 Na4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Nd5 Qxd2 16.Bxd2 Bd4+ 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.b3 Nb6[/font] is equal (Kobalia-Chuprov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
[font color="magenta"]15.Nxa4 Qxd2 16.Bxd2 Bd4+ 17.Kh1 Bxa4 18.b3 Bc6 19.Rfd1[/font] is equal (Mikenas-Averbakh, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1970).

[center]BLACK: Ivan Popov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin[/center][center]Position after 12...Ne6c5[/center]

13.f3

White has a better center; both sides have a playable game.

13...Be6 14.b3 0-0!?

Black had time to cover his Knight before castling.
If [font color="red"]14...Rc8 15.Nd5 Qxd2+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Kxd2 a5 17.Rcd1 Bxd5 18.exd5 h5 19.Kc2[/font] gives White a narrow edge.
[font color="darkred"]16.Bxd2 f5 17.b4 Na4 18.Bg5 fxe4 19.fxe4 Bxd5 20.exd5[/font] is equal.

15.Nd5!

White has a small advantage.

15...Qxd2+

[font color="red"]15...Qd8 16.Bg5 Re8 17.0-0 Qd7 18.b4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

16.Kxd2 Bxd5 17.cxd5 a5?!

Black overlooks a big, big threat.
[font color="red"]17...Rfc8 18.b4 Na4 19.Rxc8+ Rxc8 20.Bb5 Nb6 21.Rc1[/font] continues to gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Popov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin[/center][center]Position after 17...a7a5[/center]

18.Bxc5!

White wins a pawn.

18...dxc5 19.Rxc5 Rfc8

Not only is Black a pawn down, but White's unopposed d-pawn is already on the fifth rank.
[font color="red"]19...Rac8 20.Rb5 Rc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Bc4 Ra8 22.Kd3 Be5 23.g3 Kg7 24.f4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, moble center pawns and more space.
[font color="darkred"]21.Ke3 Bc3 22.Bc4 Bb4 23.Ke2 Kg7 24.g3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and moble pawns.

20.Rc4 e6

The text is better than [font color="red"]20...Bh6+ 21.Kc2 Rab8 22.a4 Be3 23.g3 Kg7 24.f4.[/font]

21.dxe6! fxe6 22.Rd1

Stronger is [font color="red"]22.f4 e5 23.g3 Bh6 24.Ke3 Rxc4 25.Bxc4+.[/font]

22...Kf8!?

The King was fine as he was; the problem is that Black's Rook is under attack and 22...Rxc4?! 23.Bxc4! only helps White.
If [font color="red"]22...Rd8+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.Kc2 Rxd1 24.Kxd1 Rd8+ 25.Ke1![/font] (25.Kc2[/font] transposes into the [font color="darkred"]subvariation)[/font] [font color="red"]25...Rd7 26.f4 Kf7 27.e5 g5 28.Bh5+[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn with power on both light andf dark squares.
[font color="darkred"]23.Ke1 Rxd1+ 24.Kxd1 Rd8+ 25.Kc2[/font] (25.Ke1![/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]main line of this variation)[/font] [font color="darkred"]25...Be5 26.g3 Bd6 27.Rd4 Kf8 28.f4[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Popov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin[/center][center]Position after 22...Kg8f8[/center]

23.Ke3!

The King will assist in the advance of his own pawns.

23...Ke7 24.f4 Rxc4 25.Bxc4 e5

[font color="red"]25...Rc8? 26.e5! g5 27.g3 h6 28.Ke4 Rc7 29.Rd6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and he'll soon pass his e-pawn.

26.f5 Rd8 27.Bd5 b5 28.g4?!

The pawn advantce is unnecesay.
If [font color="red"]28.Kf3 Bh6 29.Rd3 Bg7 30.Rd2 Rc8 31.Be6[/font] puts White on the verge of winning.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Popov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin[/center][center]Position after 28.g2g4[/center]

28...Bh6+!

Black brings his Bishop to life.

29.Kd3!?

It would be better to use the King to protect the mass of pawns on the kingside.
If [font color="red"]29.Kf3 Rc8 30.Rd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30...Bg5 31.Be6 Rc7 32.h3 h5 33.a3 gxf5 34.exf5[/font] continues to gives White an extra pawn, which is now passed.
[font color="darkred"]30...Bf4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]31.h4! Rc2 32.g5 Kf8 33.a4 b4 34.Bc4.[/font]

29...gxf5!?

Black dallies when he should create counterplay.
If [font color="red"]29...Rc8![/font] (activating pieces helps to create counterplay) [font color="red"]30.h4 Bf4 31.a3 g5 32.hxg5 Bxg5[/font] cuts White to a fair advantage in space.

30.gxf5 Rc8 31.a3 b4?

This simply provides White with an attacking lane to activate his Rook.
If [font color="red"]31...Kf6[/font] (if Black is to have any chance at saving the game, White's passed pawn must be blockaded) [font color="red"]32.Rg1 Bc1 33.a4 bxa4 34.bxa4[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn, but Black has plenty of potential counterplay.

[center]BLACK: Ivan Popov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin[/center][center]Position after 31...b5b4[/center]

32.axb4![/font] White opens the a-file. 32...axb4 33.Ra1

White seizes the freshly openned file and wins.

33...Rc3+

It's too late to blockade the f-pawn.
If [font color="red"]33...Kf6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]34.Ra6+ Kg7 35.f6+ Kg6 36.f7+ Kh5 37.Bc4.[/font]

34.Ke2 Rc2+ 35.Kf3 Rxh2 36.Ra6

If [font color="red"]36.Ra7+ Kf6 37.Rxh7 Kg5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Rh8 Rh1 39.Rg8+ Kf6 40.Rg6+ Ke7 41.Re6+.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]38.Rb7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]38...Rh3+ 39.Ke2 Kf4 40.Rxb4 Bg7 41.Rb6.[/font]

36...Rh4 37.Kg3

If [font color="red"]37.f6+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]37...Kd8 38.f7 Rf4+ 39.Ke2 Bg7 40.Ra8+.[/font]

37...Bg5

Black shortens his agony.
If [font color="red"]37...Rh5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]38.f6+ Kd7 39.Ra7+ Kd6 40.f7.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Ivan Popov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin[/center][center]Position after 37...Bh6g5[/center]

38.f6+!

It will cost Black a piece to stop the pawn.

38...Kd7

If [font color="red"]38...Bxf6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39.Rxf6 Kxf6 40.Kxh4.[/font]

39.Be6+ Kc7 40.f7 1-0

The pawn cannot be stopped.
If [font color="red"]40...Rf4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]41.Bf5 Bh4+ 42.Kh3 Rxf5 43.exf5 Be7 44.Ra7+.[/font]
If [font color="blue"]40...Be7[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]41.Ra7+ Kd6 42.Rxe7 Rf4 43.Re8 Rf6 44.Bc4.[/font]
Ivan Vladimirovich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

24. Dubov -Potkin, Round 3

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #22)

Sun Jul 8, 2012, 05:25 PM

Jul 2012

Daniil Dubov is 16 years old. He became a grandmaster at 14. Remember that name.

[center][/center]

[center]There is no photo of Daniil Dubov available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
[/font]

Daniil Dubov - Vladimir Potkin
Russian Championships, Higher League, Round 3
Tyumen, 18 June 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3

The usual move is 4.Nf3. See Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009.

4...e5

[font color="red"]4...e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Nc3[/font] is the Meran Defense.

5.Nc3 e4

If [font color="red"]5...exd4 6.exd4 Be7 7.Nf3 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.0-0 Bg4 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.c5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]10...b5 11.h3 Bh5 12.Bf4 Bxf3 13.Qxf3[/font] gives White a comfortable game with more freedom and space (Meijers-Munanira, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
If [font color="darkred"]10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nxc5? 12.dxc5 d4 13.Rad1 Kh8 14.Bb1 Bxc5 15.Na4.[/font] White has a winning advantge withe more activity and freedom (Erenska-Milashevskaja, Senior Women Masters', Bad Zwischenahn, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]11...Re8 12.Rab1 Nf8 13.b4 b6 14.Ba6 bxc5 15.dxc5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]8.h3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nbd7 10.0-0 Nb6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Bb3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nbd5 12.Re1 Be6 13.Bg5 Re8 14.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...Qd6 15.Qf3 Rad8 16.Rad1 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Bd5 18.Qf5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Annakov-Prescha, Op 9900, Hastings, 2000).
[font color="purple"]14...h6 15.Bh4 Nd7 16.Bg3 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Nxc3 18.bxc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Lanka-Arlandi, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).

[font color="darkorange"]11...Bf5 12.Ne5 Nfd5 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Bd2 Rc8 15.Rad1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Dr. Alekhine-NN, BX, Paris, 1925).

[font color="magenta"]11.Bd3 Be6 12.Re1 Nbd5 13.Ng5 Bd7 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Qb3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Mazja-Uhlmann, Euro Sr Ch, Davos, 2006).

6.Bc2 Be7 (N)

The players descide to through the book away today.
If [font color="red"]6...Bd6 7.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...exf3 8.Nxf3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Qe1 Nbd7 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Qh4 Nf8 13.Ng5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Be6 14.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Rc8?! 15.Rf2 Qe7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Bd3[/font] gives White a considerable advantage in space (Khenkin-Kohlweyer, Op, Bajada de la Virgen, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]14...h6 15.Nxe6 Nxe6 16.Ba4 Rf8 17.Rac1 Ng5[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkred"]13...h6 14.Nxf7 Kxf7 15.Nxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Be6?! 16.Nxf6 gxf6 17.Qxh6[/font] (Khenkin-Pliester, Op, Amsterdam, 2005).
[font color="magenta"]15...Be7 16.Nxe7 Rxe7 17.Bd2 Kg8[/font] remains equal.

[font color="darkpink"]10.Bd3 h6 11.Qb3 b6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Kh1 Be6[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Illescas Córdoba-Morozevich, IT, Pamplona, 1998).

[font color="darkorchid"]7...0-0 8.fxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Bb4+ 11.Bd2[/font] gives White a lead in development (Caruana-Karjakin, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2010).

7.f3

The game is equal. Development is not yet complete.

7...exf3 8.Nxf3 Bg4!?

[font color="red"]8...0-0 9.Qe2 dxc4 10.0-0 Na6 11.a3 b5 12.Ne5[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Vladimir Potkin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniil Dubov[/center][center]Position after 8...Bc8g4[/center]

9.0-0!

White takes a small advantage in space.

9...0-0 10.Qd3

White continues to hold a small advantage in space/
[font color="red"]10.Qe2 Na6 11.a3 g6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Bd2 Rc8 14.Rac1[/font] also continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="blue"]10.Bd3!? dxc4! 11.Bxc4 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]12.Be2 Qb6 13.h3 Bh5 14.Qb3 Rfe8 15.Bd3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkblue"]12.e4 Qb6 13.Be2 Rad8 14.Na4 Qa5 15.Qc2[/font] is equal.

10...Na6!?

This is an interesting way to deal with the intermediate threat to h7.
Simplest and best is [font color="red"]10...g6[/font] when:

[font color="red"]11.Bb3 Na6 12.Ne5 Nb4 13.Qb1 Be6 14.a3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]11.Ne5 Be6 12.Bb3 Nbd7 13.Nf3 Bf5 14.Qe2[/font] is equal.

11.a3!

White deprives Black of the use of b4, leaving him with no aggressive plan.
The point of Black's last move is that if [font color="red"]11.Ng5?![/font] then [font color="red"]11...Nb4! 12.Qd2 dxc4 13.Bb1 Qa5 14.Nf3[/font] refutes White's attack.

11...Bh5!?

Again, the best way to deal with a latent threat to h7 on the b1/h7 diagonal is to play ...g7g6.
If [font color="red"]11...g6![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.Ne5 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.e4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Nxe4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4 Re8 16.b3 Nb8 17.Qf4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="burgundy"]13...dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Re8 16.b3 Bd6 17.Bb2[/font] gives White a better center and latent threats against the Black King on the weakened long diagonal.

[font color="darkpink"]13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Bd2 Nb8 15.Qb5 Nbd7 16.Nd3 Nb6[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkred"]12.cxd5!? cxd5! 13.Qb5 Nc7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Qb3 Bd6 15.Ne5 Bxe5! 16.dxe5 Nd7 17.h3[/font] gives White only a slight advantage.
[font color="magenta"]14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 Ra8 16.Qb6 Rb8 17.Qa5 etc.[/font] draws by repetition; the Queen cannot escape the attack, although it cannot be taken

12.Nh4!?

This is good, but there's much better.
If [font color="red"]12.Ne5! Bg6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Bd2[/font] gives White a better center and a small advantage in space.
[font color="blue"]12.Ng5?! Bg6 13.Qe2 Bxc2 14.Qxc2 Re8 15.cxd5 h6[/font] is equal.

12...Bg6!?

Black voluntarily submits to the disfigument of his pawns.
If [font color="red"]12...g6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.Nf3 Bxf3 14.Rxf3 Nc7 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Bd2[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]13.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Nf3 14...Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Nc7 16.Bb3[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]14.Bb3!? Rc8 15.Nf3 Bxf3 16.Rxf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Vladimir Potkin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniil Dubov[/center][center]Position after 12...Bh5g6[/center]

13.Nxg6!

White now enjoys a fair advantage in space.

13...hxg6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Bb3

White has a fair advantage in space, mostly owing to the Queen at d3 and the Rook on the open f-file. Both sides have three pawn islands; Black has a disfiguered kingside.

15...Nc7 16.Bd2 Ne6 17.Rae1

[font color="red"]17.Rxf6 Bxf6 18.Nxd5 Bg5 19.Bb4 Re8 20.e4[/font] gives White a fair advantage space; both sides have serious pawn weaknesses.

17...Rc8 18.Re2 Ng5

[font color="red"]18...Rc6 19.Be1 Rb6 20.Ba2 Ra6 21.Rc2 Ra5 22.Nb5[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

19.Be1 Ne6 20.Bh4 g5

[font color="red"]20...Nc7 21.e4 dxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Bxe7 Qxe7 24.Qxe4[/font] leaves White with a comfortable advantage in space.

21.Bg3 g6?

Black creates a weakness at f6 that proves fatal.
If [font color="red"]21...Rc6 22.Be5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...Nd7 23.Bxd5 Nxe5 24.dxe5 Nc7 25.Ref2 Rxc3 26.Bxf7+[/font] gives White a considerable advantage, but Black still has chances for counterplay.
If [font color="darkred"]22...Ng4[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]23.Qf5 Nxe5 24.Qxe5 Bxa3 25.Bxd5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Vladimir Potkin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniil Dubov[/center][center]Position after 21...g7g6[/center]

22.Ref2!

White immediately jumps on the new weakness. The end is near.

22...Ng7 23.h3

If [font color="red"]23.Be5 Rxc3 24.bxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]24...Ng4[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]25.Rf3 Bxa3 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.h3.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]24...Ne4[/font] drops a pawn to [font color="darkred"]25.Rxf7 Rxf7 26.Rxf7 Kxf7 27.Qxe4.[/font]

23...Ngh5 24.Be5 g4 25.Nxd5 Nxd5 26.Rxf7 1-0

If [font color="red"]26...Rc6 27.Rxf8+ Bxf8 28.hxg4 Ng3 29.Bxg3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...Rb6 30.Qe4 Rxb3 31.Qxg6+ Bg7 32.Rf7[/font] wins the house.
[font color="darkred"]29...Kh7 30.Bxd5 Qxd5 31.Rxf8[/font] wins a piece.

Vladimir Alekseyevich resigns

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

25. Shadrina - Kovanova, Round 11

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #22)

Sun Jul 8, 2012, 05:26 PM

Jul 2012

International master Baira Kovanova, an ethnic Kalmyk, ran away with the women's group of the Higher League. She won eight games in eleven rounds.

[center][/center]

[center]There is no photo of Baira Kovanova available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
[/font]

Tatiana Shadrina - Baira Kovanova
Russian Chess Championships, Higher League (Women's Group), Round 11
Tyumen, 27 June 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Chigorin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7 12.Nbd2 exd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nf1

For moves and variation up to the fourteenth move, see Corrales Jiménez-J. Polgar, (http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=187636&mesg_id=187654) World Cup, Khanty-Maniysk, 2011.

14...cxd4

[font color="red"]14...Bf6 15.Be3 Bb7 16.Ng3 g6 17.Qd2 Rc8[/font] is equal (Hamed-Iuldachev, IT, Abu Dhabi, 2001).

15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Ne5 17.Qd1

Rather than retreat the Queen, White could strike at Black's centralized Knight.
If [font color="red"]17.f4 Nc6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Qf2 Bh4 19.g3 Bf6 20.Rd1 Qc7 21.Kh2 Bb7[/font] is equal (Kholmov-Geller, ZT, Moscow, 1964).
If [font color="darkred"]18.Qd1 Bf6 19.Ne3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...Nd4 20.Bd3 Bb7 21.Ng4 Re8 22.Be3[/font] is equal (Yurtaev-Nenashev, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1991).
[font color="magenta"]19...g6 20.Ng4 Bxg4 21.Qxg4 Rc8 22.Bb3 Nd4[/font] is equal (Westerinen-Keres, TM, Helsinki, 1968).

17...Bf6 18.Rb1

If [font color="red"]18.Ne3 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Rc8 21.Bb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Rc5 22.Qd1 Nc4 23.Rb1 d5 24.exd5 Rxd5[/font] gives Black a slight initiative (Graf-Dvoirys, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
[font color="magenta"]21...Nc4 22.Re2 Rc5 23.Qd1 d5 24.exd5 Rxd5 25.Qe1[/font] is equal (Keres-Ivkov, IT, Beverwijk, 1964).

[font color="darkred"]19.a4 Rc8 20.axb5 axb5 21.Bd2 Qb6 22.Ba5 Qc5[/font] is equal (Lobron-Romanishin, IT, Sarajevo, 1984).

18...Be6 19.b3 Nc6 20.Ba3 (N)

[font color="red"]20.f4 Nb4 21.f5 Bd7 22.a3 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 Rc8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Matulovic-Pachman, IT, Sarajevo, 1964).

20...Be5

Black has a comfortable advantage in space; White has a little more freedom.

21.Qd2 Qh4!?

Black misses an opportunity to take command of the c-file.
If [font color="red"]21...Rc8 22.Bd3 Qh4 23.Red1 Bf4 24.Ne3[/font] continues to give Black a comfortable advantage in space..

[center]BLACK: Baira Kovanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina[/center][center]Position after 21...Qd8h4[/center]

22.Bb2!

White will try to exchange her way out of a spatial deficit.

22...Qf6?!

The Bishop is well-protected at e5 not in need of any more; again, Black should take command of the c-file.
If [font color="red"]22...Rac8![/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.Bxe5 dxe5 24.Bd3 Rfd8 25.Rbc1 h6 26.Ng3 Qf6[/font] gives Black more freedom and an impressive advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]23.Bd3?! Rfd8![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.a4 d5 25.Bxe5 Nxe5 26.Ng3 Qe7 27.Qe2 d4[/font] gives Black command of the open file and a better center.
[font color="magenta"]24.Nh2 Bf4 25.Qe2 Bxh3!! 26.g3 Qg5 27.a4 Nb4[/font] gives Black pressure on the kingside and a substantial advantage in space.

23.Bd1!

Black now has a small advantage owing to greater piece activity.

23...Rac8 24.Ng3 g6 25.Bg4?!

White voluntarily allows the weakening of her kingside.
If [font color="red"]25.Ne2 Qh4 26.Bc2 Rfd8 27.f4 Bxb2 28.Rxb2 f6[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

25...Bxg4!

Of course, Black takes her up on it and will win a pawn.

26.hxg4 Qh4 27.Bxe5?!

This prevents White from winning the pawn, but allows Black to repair her isolated d-pawn.
If [font color="red"]27.Qe2 Bxg3 28.fxg3 Qxg3 29.Qf2 Qxf2+ 30.Kxf2 Nb4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and potent threats.

[center]BLACK: Baira Kovanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina[/center][center]Position after 27.Bb2e5:B[/center]

27...dxe5!

Black now has a strong game. She can take command of the d-file by simply moving a Rook to d8 or move the Knight to d4 and close the center.

28.g5 Rfd8 29.Qe3 Nd4 30.Rec1

[center]BLACK: Baira Kovanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina[/center][center]Position after 30.Re1c1[/center]

30...Qg4

This move doesn't quite look good enough to win, but if White makes one false move then she is toast.
If [font color="red"]30...Rxc1+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]31.Qxc1! Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.a4 Qxg5 33.Qxg5 Nxg5 34.f3 b4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a winning position.
If [font color="burgundy"]32.Qc6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]32...Qxg5 33.Qxa6 Nd4 34.Qa5 h5.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]31.Rxc1 Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]32.Rd1 Rxd1+! 33.Nf1 Nf4 34.f3 Qg3[/font] forces mate.
If [font color="magenta"]32.Nf1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]32...Nf4 33.g3 Qxg5 34.Rc5 h6 35.Rc6 Qg4.[/font]

31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.Rc1

If [font color="red"]32.a4?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]32...Rc2 33.axb5 axb5 34.b4 Rc4 35.Rb2 Ne6.[/font]

32...Rxc1+

If [font color="red"]32...Rd8 33.Kf1 Kg7 34.Ne2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]34...Ne6 35.f3 Qh4 36.b4 Nxg5 37.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37...Rc8 38.Ne2 Rxc1+ 39.Nxc1 Qf4 40.Qe1 Qf6[/font] leaves Black waiting for that one false move.
[font color="burgundy"]37...Qh1+ 38.Kf2 Qh6 39.Nd5 Qh4+[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]34...Nxe2 35.Qxe2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]35...Qxg5 36.Rc7 Qh6 37.Kg1 Qd2 38.Qxd2 Rxd2[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but not yet an winning game.
[font color="magenta"]35...Qxe2+? 36.Kxe2 h6 37.gxh6+ Kxh6 38.Rc5! Re8[/font] gives Black only a small advantage.

33.Qxc1 Kg7 34.Qd2

That Black hasn't won the game yet almost seems like an academic point.
If [font color="red"]34.Qe3 Ne6 35.Ne2 Qxg5 36.Qc3 Qf6 37.a4 Nd4[/font] continues to give White enough defensive resources.

34...Qf4 35.Qa5?

White makes the one false move and abandons the center.
If [font color="red"]35.Nf1 Ne6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36.Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36...Qxe4 37.Qxa6 b4 38.Ne3 Nxg5[/font] keeps the wolf away from door momentarily.
[font color="burgundy"]36...Nxg5 37.f3 Qf6 38.Ne3 Qd6 39.Qc3 Ne6 40.Nd5[/font] allows White to slow White's progress in the center.

If [font color="darkred"]36.Qxf4 exf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]37.f3 Nxg5 38.Kf2 h5 39.Ke2 Kf6 40.Kd2 Ne6[/font] leaves Black to win by breaking up White's kingside.
If [font color="magenta"]37.b4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]37...Nd4 38.a3 Nc2 39.g3 Nxa3 40.gxf4 Nc2.[/font]

If [font color="blue"]35.Qxf4 exf4 36.Nf1 Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]37.Nd2 Nxg5 38.b4 Ne6 39.Nb3 Kf6 40.f3 g5[/font] may also give White enough to fight on, but it's more problematic than the red case.
If [font color="darkblue"]37.b4 Nxg5 38.Nd2 Kf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]39.f3 Ke5 40.Nb3 Ne6 41.a3 h5 42.Kf2 g5[/font] gives Black a win after she breaks up White's kingside pawns.
If [font color="dodgerblue"]39.a3[/font] then Black wins in a cakewalk after [font color="dodgerblue"]39...f3 40.gxf3 Ke5 41.Kf1 h5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Baira Kovanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina[/center][center]Position after 35.Qd2a5[/center]

35...Qxg5!

White has a clear shot to the back rank.

36.Qxa6

The pawn is expendable.
If [font color="red"]36.Qe1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]36...h5 37.Kf1 Kh7 38.Nh1 h4.[/font]

36...Qc1+ 37.Kh2

If [font color="red"]37.Nf1 Ne2+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Kh1 Qxf1+ 39.Kh2 Qg1+ 40.Kh3 Qh1+ 41.Kg4 Qh5#.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]38.Kh2[/font] then [font color="darkred"]38...Qh6#.[/font]

37...h5 38.Qd6 Qf4 39.Kg1

[font color="red"]39.Kh1 h4 40.Nf1 Qxf2 41.Qxe5+ Kg8[/font] traps the White Knight.

39...h4 40.Nh1 Qxe4 41.f3

If [font color="red"]41.Kh2 Qf4+ 42.Kg1 b4 43.Qc5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]43...Qe4 44.Kh2 h3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45.Kxh3 Ne6 46.Ng3 Nxc5 47.Nxe4 Nxe4 48.f3 Nc3[/font] leaves the Knight to stop Black on one side while the Black King escorts the extra kingside pawn home.
If [font color="magenta"]45.f3[/font] then Black wins easily after [font color="magenta"]45...Qf4+ 46.Ng3 Nf5 47.Qf2 e4 48.Qe1 e3.[/font]

Black also wins after [font color="darkred"]43...Ne2+ 44.Kf1 Nc3 45.Qe3 Qh2 46.Qh3 Qxh3[/font] when Black wins the Knight ending with an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Baira Kovanova[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina[/center][center]Position after 41.f2f3[/center]

41...Qe1+ 42.Kh2 h3 43.Qd5

If [font color="red"]43.Qc5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]43...hxg2 44.Kxg2 b4 45.Ng3 Qd2+ 46.Kf1 Nxf3.[/font]

43...hxg2 44.Kxg2 Ne6 0-1

If [font color="red"]45.Qe4[/font] then [font color="red"]45...Nf4+ 46.Kh2 Qd2+ 47.Kg3 Qg2+ 48.Kh4 g5#.[/font]
Shadrina resigns.

JonLP24

(29,322 posts)

19. Can Magnus be beaten?

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 10:02 AM

Jul 2012

Or has he lost recently at all?

From what I briefly seen on 60 Minutes it looks impossible for him to lose.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

20. This was Magnus' first appearence since Wijk aan Zee in January

Reply to JonLP24 (Reply #19)

Sun Jul 1, 2012, 02:42 PM

Jul 2012

He admitted to being a little rusty after a layoff where his biggest victory was his rock-paper-scissors contest with Steven Colbert. He was definitely in trouble in some of the games he drew in the early part of the Tal.

In Wijk aan Zee, Magnus won four and lost one out of 13. The short answer is yes, he can be beaten, but not too often. In standard time controls, he will typically win a nine-round tournament with about a +3 score (winning three or four games and either not losing or losing once). In this tournament, which was particularly strong, he managed to win with only a +2 score.

This is the first tournament I can think of where all of the participants were rated over 2700. Each player in the event was a hard man to beat. When that is the case, expect a low number of decisive games. Only three players out of ten played more decisive games than draws. Only two points separated the head of the table from the foot. All in all, these players were pretty evenly matched.

Luke McShane was the lowest rated player in the tournament and, with all respect to Mr. McShane, the one on whom the others were expected to get fat. It started out that way in the first two rounds, with Mr. McShane losing twice, but then he caught his bearings by beating Aronian. Mr. Shane played in all seven decisive games, more than any other player, finishing at -1 with three wins and four losses. He tied Caruana and Morozevich for the most wins of any player in the Tal, but lost more than anyone else. This merited him a tie for eighth place out of ten. Yet he won more games than Magnus.

Magnus plays only in elite tournaments nowadays. That's been the case for several years. This is the kind of tough competition he faces all the time.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

26. Updates (July 16): Dortmund begins; July results thru the 16th

Mon Jul 16, 2012, 08:08 PM

Jul 2012

Last edited Sat Jul 21, 2012, 03:36 PM - Edit history (2)

[font size="4"]40th Dortmund Tournament begins[/font]

The 40th annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting began Friday in Dortmund, Germany.

The main attraction is the elite master tournament, which this year is a single round robin among ten international grandmasters. They are: Marteusz Bartel (Poland), who won his ticket to Dortmund by finishing first in Moscow at the Aeroflot Open in February; reigning Italian national champion Fabiano Carauana; reigning German national champion Daniel Fridman; Jan Gustafsson (Germany); Sergey Karjakin (Russia); former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), the defending tournament champion; Peter Leko (Hungary); Georg Meier (Germany); Arkadij Naiditsch, Germany's highest rated player; and Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine).

After four rounds, Kramnik and Ponomariov are tied for first with 3 points each.

[font size="4"]Results in July[/font]

40th World Open, Philadelphia won by Ivan Sokolov (Holland).
8th Russia-China team match, St. Petersburg Standard time control won by Russian men and Chinese women.
World Rapid Championship, Astana, Kazakhstan won by Sergey Karjakin (Russia).
World Blitz Championship, Astana won by Alexander Grischuk (Russia).
49th Canadian Open, Victoria, British Columbia won by international master Eric Hansen (Canada).
Sixth Leiden Open won by David Howell (Britain).

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

27. Update (Tuesday, July 17): Dortmund

Tue Jul 17, 2012, 08:17 PM

Jul 2012

Russian GM Sergey Karjakin joined former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, also of Russia, and Ukrainian GM Ruslan Ponomariov in first place after today's fifth round of the elite tournament as part of the 40th annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund, Germany.

Karjakin won his game against reigning German national champion Daniel Friedman in 46 moves while Kramnik and Ponomariov drew against each other in 37 moves. All three players have 2 wins, no losses and three draws in the first five rounds.

In other action today, reigning Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana took down German grandmaster Jan Gastafsson in 35 moves, Arkadij Naiditsch, Germany's highest rated player, defeated Polish GM Marteusz Bartal, this year's Aeroflot Open champion, in a mere 110 moves and German GM Georg Meier and Peter Leko of Hungary played 24 moves to a draw.

Tomorrow is a rest day for the players. The action resumes on Thursday with the sixth round of the scheduled nine round tournament. The games will be broadcast live beginning at 3 pm Central European Time (4 am PDT) on official tournament website (all games), ChessBomb.com (all games) and ChessGames.com (Ponomariov-Bartel).

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

28. Updates (July 21)

Sat Jul 21, 2012, 03:29 PM

Jul 2012

Last edited Sun Jul 22, 2012, 01:21 AM - Edit history (1)

[font size="4"]Dortmund: Five Tied for First with One Round to Go[/font]

The elite tournament at the 40th annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund, Germany, completed its eighth round out of nine today with five of the ten competitors tied for first place.

They are: Fabiano Caruana (Italy); Sergey Karjakin (Russia); Peter Leko (Hungary); Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany); and Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine). All five have 5 points each. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia is in sixth place with 4½ points after losing his game today to Caruana.

The last round begins tomorrow at 1 pm Central European Time (2 am PDT) and will be broadcast live on the official tournament website. Tomorrow's pairings are: Polish national champion and Aeroflot Open winner Mateusz Bartel against Caruana (Black)Karjakin (White) against German grandmaster Jan Gustafsson; Naiditsch (White) against Leko (Black); Ponomariov (White) against German national champion Daniel Fridman; and Kramnik (White) against German grandmaster Georg Meier. If Kramnik wins his game against Meier and all the other games end in draws, Kramnik will finish in a six-way tie for first.

[font size="4"]Amsterdam: Giri, Lanchava win Dutch national championships[/font]
[font size="3"]Peng Zhaoqin's historic title streak ends at 12[/font]

[center][/center]

[center]Peng Zhaoqin, Dutch women's champion 2000-2012[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan 64 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categoryeng_Zhaoqin)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
The Dutch national championships ended today in Amsterdam with victories for defending overall champion Anish Giri and Georgia native Tea Lanchava as the new women's champion.

Mh. Giri wrapped up the title yesterday when he completed the sixth and penultimate round a point and a half ahead of his nearest competitor.

Mw. Lanchava, an international master who has lived in Holland since 1995, defeated defending champion Peng Zhaoquin, a native of China who has lived in Holland since 1996, in the second round of the quadrangular women's championship and never looked back. When Mw. Peng defeated Mw. Lanchava today in the final round it was of no consequence, since Mw. Lanchava has nailed down first place yesterday.

Mw. Peng had held the Dutch women's title for twelve straight years, beginning in 2000. She became a full grandmaster in 2004.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

29. Updates (July 22): Dortmund and Jermuk

Sun Jul 22, 2012, 03:17 PM

Jul 2012

[font size="4"]Caruana, Karjakin tie for first in Dortmund[/font]

The Sparkassen Chess meeting in Dortmund, Germany, ended today in a tie between Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana and Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin.

Il signore Caruana is awarded the trophy based on superior tie break scores. The first tie break was games with Black (both had four) and the second wad game won (Caruana won four against Karjakin's 3 victories). Both players scored 6 points in nine rounds.

The day started with five players tied for first place and a sixth only a half point behind. Also in first place after eight rounds were Ukrainian grandmaster Ruslan Ponomariov, who drew with reigning German national champion Daniel Fridman, and German grandmaster Arkadij Naiditsch and Peter Leko of Hungary, who drew against each other. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik was a half point back and won today against German GM Georg Meier. Ponomariov, Naiditsch, Leko and Kramnik finish in a tie for third place with 5½ points each.

[font size="4"]Ju Wenjun leads Jermuk women's Grand Prix[/font]

Ju Wenjun of China leads the fifth leg of the 2011/12 FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia, with 4½ points after today's sixth round.

In today's action, Indian GM Koneru Humpy and China's Ruan Lufei climbed into a three-way tie for second place with reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan of China with wins over Ekaterina Kovalevskaya of Russia and Nino Khurtsidze of Georgia, respectively, while Ju Nushi and Hou Nushi drew their respective games against Russia's Nadezhda Kosintseva and Armenian GM Elina Danielian. The trio in second place have 4 points each.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

30. Update (July 23): Biel Chess Festival begins

Mon Jul 23, 2012, 02:04 PM

Jul 2012

The 45th annual Biel Chess Festival began yesterday in Biel, Bern Canton, Switzerland with the event's main feature, a double round robin elite grandmaster tournament, starting today.

Yesterday, the tournament got off to a fine start with a knock out blitz tournament won by American GM Hikaru Nakamura. A nine-round open tournament begins on Wednesday with Sergei Movsesian (Armenia), Mixime Vachier Lagrave (France) and Pentala Harikrishna (India) as the top seeds.

In today's action in the elite tournament, Wang Hao (China) defeated Etienne Bacrot (France), recently re-crowned Dutch national champion Anish Giri took down three-time Biel winner Alexander Morozevich (Russia) and the world's number one grandmaster, Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Hikaru Nakamura (United States) playing to a draw.

The official tournament website will broadcast the elite grandmaster games live beginning at 2 pm Central European Summer Time (5 am PDT).

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

31. Update (Wednesday, July 25): Moro hospitalized, withdraws from Biel

Wed Jul 25, 2012, 10:30 PM

Jul 2012

[center]

Alexander Morozevich
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis modified from flikr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/1794534747/)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich was hospitalized before the start of the third round of the elite grandmaster tournament in Biel, Bern Canton, Switzerland, and withdrew from the tournament.

The organizing committee announced later that Moldovan grandmaster Viorel Bologan will replace Morozevich for the rest of the tournament. Morozevich had lost his first two games and was scheduled to play world number one Magnus Carlsen today. That game, with Bologan in Morozevich's stead, will be played will be played on Sunday, which is otherwise a rest day.

In today's third round action, Chinese grandmaster Wang Hao, who lost to Magnus yestaerday, bounced back an defeated American GM Hikaru Nakamura; and Dutch national champion Anish Giri took down French GM Etienne Bacrot.

Morozevich has a history of health problems and has been forced to withdraw prior to the start of tournaments in the past on that account.

[font size="4"]Hou tied for top spot in Jermuk[/font]

Reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan of China took down her compatriot Ruan Lufei today and moves into a tie for first place in fifth leg of the 2011/12 FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Jermuk, Armenia.

Hou Nushi ties another compatriot, Ju Wenjun, who has been alone in first place since the start of the tournament. Both ladies have three victories, no losses and five draws in eight rounds. Hou Nishi Ju Nushi played each other to a draw in round 3.

The eleven-round event is due to finish Saturday.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

32. Update (Thursday, July 26): Hou pulls ahead in Jermuk

Thu Jul 26, 2012, 10:10 PM

Jul 2012

Reingning world women's champion Hou Yifan of China defeated Russian international master Ekaterina Kovalevskaya today in the ninth round of the fifth leg of the 2011/12 FIDE Women's in Jermuk, Armenia.

Hou Nushi's victory brought her a half point ahead of her compatriot, Ju Wenjun, who drew her game today against Lilit Mkrtchian of Armenia,. Another lady from China, Ruan Lufei, is currently in third place.

There are only two rounds remaining in Jermuk. A first place finish in Jermuk by Hou Nushi will allow her to claim victory in the 2011/12 Grand Prix. She is not scheduled to participate in the final leg of the Grand Prix to be held in Istanbul in November.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

33. Update (Saturday, July 28): Hou wins Jermuk Grand Prix

Sat Jul 28, 2012, 04:33 PM

Jul 2012

All three of the top Chinese ladies lost their respective games in the final round of the fifth leg of the 2011/12 FIDE Women's Grand Prix today in Jermuk, Armenia, leaving Hou Yifan, the reigning world women's champion, as the winner of the event with 7 points in eleven rounds.

Hou Nushi lost her game to Ukrainian grandmaster Katya Lanho, giving Kateryna Oleksandrivna a share of second place in the final standings with Russian GM Nadezhda Kosintseva and Indian GM Koneru Humpy.

The day began with Hou Nushi in first place with seven points, a full point ahead of two compatriots, Ju Wenjun and Ruan Lufei. However, Ju Nushi lost her game to Sushri Koneru and Ruan Nushi lost to Nadezhda Anatolyevna. Today's results caused an upheaval in the standings, with the day starting with two ladies tied for second with 6 points each and end with three completely different ladies tied for second with 6½ points each.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

34. Update (Monday, July 30): Magnus takes over lead in Biel

Mon Jul 30, 2012, 09:03 PM

Jul 2012

Magnus Carlsen, the highest rated active chess player in the world and the young man who vanquished Stephen Colbert at rock-paper-scissors, took over first place today in the grandmaster tournament at the Beil Chess Festival in Bern Canton, Switzerland.

Magnus claimed first place by defeating Chinese grandmaster Wang Hao in 60 moves. Wang had held first place since the third when Magnus, scheduled to play against Russian GM Alexander Morozevich, had his game cancelled when Morozevich withdrew from the tournament due to health concerns. Magnus yesterday played and defeated Moldavan GM Viorel Bologan, Morozevich's replacement, to make up the missed game.

In the fútbol-style scoring that is official in Biel, Magnus and Wang have 13 points each, but Magnus has a better tiebreak score. Moreover, Magnus has beaten Wang from both sides of the board. Dutch national champion Anish Giri is in third place with 12 points.

There are still three games remaining in the tournament. The official tournament website will broadcast the games live beginning at 2 pm Central European Summer Time (5 am PDT).

The August edition of the Jack Rabbit Chess Report will be postponed until Thursday, August 2, in order to report on the end of the Biel tournament.

rozidays

(23 posts)

35. Magnus wins Tal Memorial, tops ratings list