The JR Chess Report (May 8): Title Match still tied with two games to play

[Jack Rabbit]

Title Match Tied with Two Rounds Remaining



Reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand of India, affectionately called Vishy by the chess world, and challenger Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria are deadlocked after 10 rounds in their match for the world chess championship in the Bulgaian capital of Sofia.

Only two games remain for the players to determine the winner of the match and avoid a rapid and blitz playoff Thursday if the 12 regulation games end in a 6-6 tie.

Vishy had a bad week after scoring an impressive win in the fourth round on Aril 28. After a sloppy draw in round 6, in which Anand had the worst of it for most of the game, and another, more impressive draw in round seven, Vishy was on the virge of drawing round 8 when he blundered on the 54th move and lost the game almost immediately. Games 9 and 10 were both drawn after Anand blew winning chances in both games.

The eleventh round will be played tomorrow with Topalov playing White and round 12 takes place Tuesday.

Although the 40-year-old champion appears to be tired according to reports coming out of Sofia, Anand would have to be considered the favorite in a any rapid and blitz playoff as many consider him to be the greatest speed chess player of all time.

Games will be broadcast live on the Official match website. All games begin at 3 pm Eastern European Summer Time (5 am PDT).


Tanya Kosintseva Wins Nalchik GP



Russian grandmaster Tatiana Kosintseva scored a runaway winin the third leg of the 2009-10 FIDE Women's Grand Prix that completed yesterday in Nalchik, the capital of the Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkar.

Tatiana Anatolyevna scored 9 points out of a possible 11, winning 7 games and drawing 4. Sixteen-year-old Chinese grandmast Hou Yifan, who won the Kuala Lumpur Open last month, was second with 7½ points while GM Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia and reigning European women's champion Pia Cramling of Sweden tied for third with 7 points each.

In winning the tournament, Tatiana Anatolyevna defeated her three closest rivals in head-to-head competition.


40th SK Bosna Begins as an Open Tournament



The 40th International Tournament sponsored by the Bosna Chess Club in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, began Wedneday in the historical city.

This year, instead of the usual elite GM tournament and a "B" tournament for norm-hunting IMs, there is one open tournament.

The top seeds are Chinese grandmaster Wang Hao, Ukrainian GM Zahar Efimenko and Russian GM Artyom Timofeev. The top rated Bosnian player is grandmaster Ivan Sokolov, who doubles as tournament director. The top ranked woman in the tournament is Nadezhda Kosintseva, sister Tatiana Kosintseva.

After four rounds, young Hungarian GM David Berczes and grandmaster Dmitry Svetushkin of Moldova are tied for first place with perfect scores. The two play each other in tomorrow's fifth round.



Other tournaments starting this week:

Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Astrakhan (Russia) 9-25 May.

US Championship, St. Louis 13-25 May.


Calendar

Chicago Open 27-31 May.

Karpov International Tournament, Poikovsky 31 May-14 June. Bacrot, Bologan, Jakovenko, Motylev, Onischuk, Rianzantsev, Rublevsky, Shirov, Ivan Sokolov, Sutivsky, Svidler and Wang Hao.

45th Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Havana 9-22 June. Alekseev, Bruzón, Domínguez, Ivanchuk, Nepomniachtchi and Short.

Kings Tournament, Banza 14-24 June. Carlsen, Gelfand, Nisipeanu, Ponomariov, Radjabov and Wang Yue.

Women's Grand Prix, Jermuk 23 June-6 July.

World Open, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 15-25 July. Kramnik, Le Quang Liem, Leko, Mamedyarov, Naiditsch and Ponomariov.

Women's Grand Prix, Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 29 July-12 August.

World Junior Championships, Chotowa Czarna (Poland) 2-17 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 6-8 August. The world economic crisis reduces the festival to three days in 2010, with the rapid open and simultaneous exhibitions by Vishy Anand and Alexandra Kosteniuk being the only featured events.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

Pan-American Women's Championship, São Paulo 10-21 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

Women's Grand Prix, Vina del Mar (Chile) 27 October-9 November.

World Youth Championships, Halidiki (Greece) 19-31 October.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (Women's World Championship), Turkey 2-25 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downloaded free here.

BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)


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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Match for the World Title, Sofia

Sofia
Photo by podoboq, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Anand - Topalov, Round 6

World Champion Vishy Anand, Chief Arbiter Panaqiotis Nikolopoulos and Challenger Veselin Topalov at the start of Round 6
Let the game begin, come out fighting and may the best man Win
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Veselin Topalov
Match for the World Title, Round 6
Sofia, 1 May 2010

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2

• For a thorough look at this opening, please see Anand-Topalov, World Ch Match Rd 4, Sofia, 2010.

5...a6 6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0

• Up to here, the players have followed the second game of the present match.

10.Bg5!?

• White introduces a novelty. The second game continued 10.Bd2 Nd5 11.Rc1 Nd7 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Ba5 Qe7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.Qa3 Qxa3 16.bxa3 N7f6 17.Nde5! when Black has an extra pawn but White has some compensation in better minor pieces and stronger pawns.

10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nd3

• 12.Rc1 Qe7 13.Qd3 Nd7 14.Rc2 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bb6Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn.

12...Ba7 13.Qa4

• 13.Na5 Qe7 14.Qb3 Nd7 15.Bxb7 Bxb7 16.Qxb7 is equal.

13...Nc6 14.Rac1!?

• If 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Qxc6 Rb8 16.Nd6 then:
• If 16...Rb6 17.Qc7 Qd8 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 then:
• 19.Nc4 Rb8 20.Rfc1 Bd7 21.Nce5 is equal.
• 19.Nxc8 Rxc8 20.Rfc1 Rcc6 21.a4 a5 is equal.
• If 16...e5 17.Nxc8 Rfxc8 18.Qe4 Qe6 then:
• 19.b3 Rc3 20.Rfc1 Rbc8 21.Rxc3 dxc3 22.Rc1 is equal.
• 19.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 20.Rxc1 f5 21.Qxe5 Qxe5 22.Nxe5 is equal.

14...e5

• Black advances in the center. He has a pawn to give.

15.Bxc6

• White is looking to score with a tactical shot.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 15.Bg2c6:N

15...b5!

• Black replies with a tactical shot of his own.
• 15...bxc6? 16.Ncxe5 c5 17.Qc6 Be6 18.Qxa6 is equal.

16.Qc2 Qxc6 17.Ncxe5

• White has his pawn back, but Black should be able to do more with his Bishops in an open center than White can do with his Knights. That being said, White's Knights are centralized, so he has a head start.

17...Qe4 18.Qc6 Bb7 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rc2

• 20.Nc6 Rfe8 21.Nxa7 Rxa7 22.Rfe1 Rae7 23.Kf1 Bf5 gives Black a more active game.

20...Rfe8 21.Rfc1 f6 22.Nd7

• 22.Nc6 Bxc6 23.Rxc6 Rxe2 24.Kf1 Rae8 25.Rxa6 is equal.

22...Bf5 23.N7c5 Bb6!?

• 23...Bxc5 24.Rxc5 Bxd3 25.exd3 Re2 26.R5c2 is equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 23...Ba7b6

24.Nb7

• The game is equal.

24...Bd7 25.Nf4 Rab8 26.Nd6 Re5 27.Nc8

• 27.b4 a5 28.a3 Ra8 29.Kf1 g5 30.Nd3 remains equal.

27...Ba5

• If 27...Rxc8!? 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8 29.Rxc8+ then:
• If 29...Kf7 30.Rb8 Ba5 31.b4 then:
• 31...g5 32.Nd3 Rxe2 33.bxa5 Rxa2 34.Rd8 Rxa5 35.Rxd4 gives White a piece for two pawns.
• 31...Bxb4 32.Nd3 Rxe2 33.Nxb4 Rb2 34.a3 a5 35.Nd3 gives White a piece for two pawns.
• 29...Kh7?! 30.Rc6 Ba5 31.Kf1 Bd2 32.Ne6 a5 33.Nxd4 White still has an extra pawn.

28.Nd3 Re8 29.Na7 Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7 31.Ncb4 a5 32.Nd5 a4

• Black permits White to swap a Knight for a Bishop.
• 32...Ba7 33.Rc7 Reb8 34.b4 axb4 35.N3xb4 remains equal.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 32...a5a4

33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5

• 34...Bg4 35.f3 Bf5 36.Rd2 Rc6 37.b4 axb3 38.Nxb3 remains equal.

35.Rd2 Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3

• 37.Nxb3 d3 38.Rxc6 dxe2 39.Rc1 e1Q+ 40.Rxe1 Rxe1+ remains equal.

37...b4!?

• Black drops a pawn.
• 37...Re4 38.Kf1 b4 39.Nd3 Rc3 40.Rcd1 Bh3+ 41.Ke1 gives Black more freedom.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 37...b4b4

38.Rxd4!

• White takes the pawn.

38...Rxe2

• If 38...Rec8 39.Rdc4 Bg6 40.Nd3 Rxc4 then:
• 41.bxc4 b3 42.c5 Be4 43.f3 Bc6 44.e4 White still has an extra pawn, but it does not appear hopeful that either side will push over a passed pawn.
• If 41.Rxc4?? then 41...Rxc4 42.bxc4 Bxd3 43.exd3 b3! wins for Black.

39.Rxb4 Bh3 40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4?!

• The text is slightly inaccurate. Black should attack a loose piece that won't just find a more useful square.
• 41.Rh4! Rc2 42.Ra1 Rxc5 43.Rxh3 Rcd5 44.Rh4 leaves White with a passed pawn and an active Rook.

41...Rb2 42.Ree1!?

• White fails to accommodate his passed pawn's lust to expand.
• White remains slightly better after 42.b4 Rdd2 43.Rh4 Bf5 44.Na4 Ra2 45.Nc3 Rab2.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 42.Re4e1

42...Rdd2!

• The game is equal.

43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3

• Black declines a draw by repetition.

46.Rb1 Rdxb3 47.Nd2

• If 47.Rxb2 Rxb2 48.f4 then:
• 48...Kf7 49.Nf2 Bc8 50.Rc1 Be6 51.Rc5 f5 52.Nd3 remains equal.
• 48...Rg2+ 49.Kh1 Rc2 50.Kg1 invites a draw by repetition.

47...Rb4 48.f3 g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2 50.Rd1

• The game remains equal.
• 50.Re8+ Kf7 51.Rd8 Ke7 52.Rd4 also reamins equal.

50...Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6

• 53...Bf5 54.Ra7+ Kg6 55.h4 Rc3+ 56.Ke2 Rc6 57.Ra4 g4 58.Nc4 remains equal.

54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+

• Before the match, Topalov said he would neither offer draw nor accept an offer of a draw from Anand. Fortunately, he said nothing about repeating moves or we might have been here for a long time.

56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rc2 ½-½

• 59. Ke3 repeats the position a third time with Black to move.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Anand - Topalov, Round 7

Topalov and Anand in Action
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Veselin Topalov
Match for the World Title, Round 7
Sofia, 3 May 2010

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+

• In rounds 2, 4 and 6, Topalov played4...dxc4. SeeAnand-Topalov, World Ch Match Rd 4, Sofia, 2010.

5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4

• The belated pawn capture is a rare continuation.
• If 8...Nbd7 9.Qc2 b6 10.Rd1 then:
• If 10...Bb7 11.Nc3 then:
• If 11...Nh5 12.Bc1 Nhf6 13.b3 Rc8 14.e4 then:
• If 14...c5 15.exd5 exd5 then:
• 16.Bb2 Qc7 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.dxc5 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Nxc5 21.Qf5 Rfd8 22.Be5 Black resigns as he must lose a piece(Stein-Lengyel, IT, Moscow, 1971).
• 16.dxc5 dxc4 17.b4 bxc5 18.b5 Qb6 19.Bf4 Rfd8 20.a4 Ne8 21.Re1 Bd6 22.a5 Qc7 23.b6 Qb8 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Nb5 gives White more than enough space to compensate for his pawn minus(Rosen-Kachibadze, Bundesliga 0910, Berlin, 2009).
• 14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Ba8 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Bf4 Bd6 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.c5 Qe7 21.b4 is equal(D. Gurevich-Legaspi, Op, Chicago, 1993).
• If 11...dxc4 12.Nd2 Nd5 13.Nxc4 Nxf4 14.gxf4 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.e3 Rac8 16.Rac1 Nf6 17.Ne5 c5 18.d5 exd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5 Rcd8 is equal(Mahjoob-A. Sokolov, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 14...Nf6 15.Ne5 Nd5 16.e3 Rc8 17.Rac1 Bd6 18.Ne4 Bb8 19.a3 draw(Brynell-Grabarczyk, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).
• If 11...Rc8 12.Ne5 Nh5 13.Bc1 then:
• If 13...f5 14.Qa4 Nxe5 15.dxe5 then:
• I15...Qc7 16.Bf3 g6 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.Rac1 Qxe5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Nxd5 Bc5 is equal(Hammer-Clery, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2010).
• 15...a6 16.e4 b5!? 17.Qb3! fxe4 18.Bh3 Kh8 19.Bxe6 d4 20.c5!! Bxc5 21.Nxe4 gives White the advantage in space and a strong initiative(Skobeme-Predojevic, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 13...Nhf6 14.Bf4 Nh5 invites a draw by repetition.
• If 10...Ba6 11.b3 Rc8 12.Nc3 then:
• If 12...Qe8 13.e4 dxc4 14.Nd2 e5 15.dxe5 Ng4 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 17.bxc4 Bc5 18.Rd2 Ndxe5 19.h3 Nf6 20.Na4 Bb4 21.Rdd1 then:
• If 21...b5 22.Qb2 Ng6 23.Be3 Qe7 24.cxb5 cxb5 25.a3 bxa4 26.Qxb4 Qe6 27.Qxa4 gives White an extra pawn, two Bishops vs. two Knights and a huge advantage in space(Zhukova-Arabidze, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
• 21...Nfd7 22.a3 Be7 23.Be3 b5 24.Nb2 Nb6 25.c5 Nbc4 26.Nxc4 Nxc4 27.Bd4 gives White a small advantage in space(Nyback-San Segundo, Euro ChT, Gothenburg, 2005).
• 12...Nh5 13.Bc1 then:
• 13...f5 14.e3 Qe8 15.Bb2 g5 16.Ne2 Ng7 17.Ne5 h5 18.h3 gives White the advantage in space(Sakaev-Grigoriants, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 13...Nhf6 14.Bf4 Nh5 invites a draw by repetition.

9.Ne5 b5

• Black plays to keep the pawn; this has been Topalov's policy during the match.
• If 9...Nd5 10.Nxc4 Nxf4 11.gxf4 then:
• 11...Nd7 12.Nc3 Nb6 13.Ne5 Nd5 14.e3 f6 15.Nd3 Bd7 16.Ne4 Be8 is equal(Kachiani-T. Mamedyarova, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 11...Qc7 12.e3 b6 13.Qb3 Bb7 14.Nc3 Nd7 15.Rfd1 Rad8 16.a4 c5 is equal(Sharevich-Kovalevskaya, Euro Club Cup W, Kallithea, 2008).

10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7!?

• If 11...Ba6 12.Bxa8 Qxa8 then:
• 13.Qc2 Qc6 14.Bg5 Bb7 15.f3 e5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 gives Black the advantage in space, but White has won the exchange(Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Nice, 2010).
• 13.f3 Rd8 14.Qd2 Qc6 15.Kg2 Bb7 16.Rd1 leaves White up by the exchange.

12.Bxa8

• Topa played a different move, but still sacrifices the exchange like Ivanchuk. White has the material advantage for now.

12...Qxa8 13.f3

• Vishy seems to know the Gelfand-Ivanchuk game, too.
• If 13.Qc2 then:
• If 13...e5 14.dxe5 then:
• If 14...Nd5 15.Rd1 Nb4 16.Qc1 Bh3 17.f3 gives White the advantage in material and Black the advantage in space.
• 14...Bh3!? 15.f3 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 Ng4 17.Nc3 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 keaves White up by a pawn after returning the exchange.
• 13...Qc6!? 14.Nd2 Nd5 15.Qe4 g5 16.Be3 f5 17.Qg2 gives White the advantage in material and Black the advantage in space.

13...Nd5 14.Bd2 e5 15.e4!

• White gets his foot in the center and dislodges Black's centralized Knight.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 15.e2e4

15...Bh3!?

• Black plays a very interesting scarfice. Keeping in mind that he's already an exchange down, he'll get the exchange back and then give up a Knight for two pawns, but one will be an advanced passer.
• 15...Nb4 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.Nc3 exd4 18.Qxd4 gives White the initiative and leaves him up by the exchange.

16.exd5 Bxf1 17.Qxf1 exd4 18.a4

• White has a piece for a pawn, but the pawn at d5 is doomed.

18...Qxd5 19.axb5 Qxb5 20.Rxa7 Re8 21.Kh1!?

• White blows his engine.
• Correct is 21.Kg2! Bf8 22.Rc7 d3 23.Nc3 Qb3 24.Qc1 White is better for blockading Black's pawns and having an active Rook.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 21...Kg1h1

21...Bf8!

• The game is equal.
• 21...Qxb2! 22.Qe1 h6 23.Na3 c3 24.Bf4 is also equal.

22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2

• 25.Ra5 Qc6 26.b3 Re3 27.Nd2 cxb3 28.Qg1 remains equal.

25...Bb4 26.Ra1!

• White returns his Rook to the back rank where it is needed in the defense.
• 26.Qd1? Re2! 27.Ra2 Bxc3 28.bxc3 Qe8 29.Qg1 Re1 wins for Black.
• If 26.Ne4 Bxc3 then:
• If 27.bxc3 f5 28.Nf2 Re2 then:
• 29.Kg2 Qb2 30.Ra5 Qxc3 31.Rc5 Rc2 gives Black excellent chances of converting a pawn and winning.
• 29.Ra1 Qb2 30.Kg1 Qxc3 31.f4 Kh7 32.Rc1 Qd2 wins for Black.
• 27.Nxc3 Qxb2 28.Ne4 Rd8 29.Ra1 f5 30.Nf2 Qe2 is equal.

26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4

• If 29.h4 Qc2 30.Ne4 then:
• If 30...f5 31.Rc1 Qa4 32.Nf2 then:
• If 32...Qe8 33.Kg2 Qe3 then:
• 34.Ra1 Qd2 35.Ra8+ Kh7 36.Ra1 Qxc3 37.Rc1 Qd4 wins for Black.
• 34.Rd1 d2 35.h5 Kh7 36.g4 fxg4 37.fxg4 Kh8Zunzwang!
• 32...d2 33.Rb1 Rxf2 34.Qxf2 d1Q+ 35.Rxd1 Qxd1+ is equal.
• If 30...Rh2+? 31.Kg1 f5 32.Ra1! then:
• 32...Re2 33.g4 Rh2 34.gxf5 Rxh4 35.Qf2 wins for White.
• If 32...fxe4 33.fxe4 Rg2+ then 34.Qxg2 Qxg2+ 35.Kxg2 wins.

29...Qc2 30.Rc1 Rxh2+

• If 30...Qb2 31.Rb1 Rxh2+ 32.Kg1 then:
• If 32...Rg2+ 33.Qxg2 Qxb1+ 34.Qf1 Qb6+ then:
• If 35.Qf2 Qe6 36.Nd2 Kh7 then:
• If 37.Kg2 Kg8 38.g4 then:
• 38...Kh7 39.Kf1 Qe5 40.Nxc4 Qxc3 41.Nd2 bockades Black's pawn.
• 38...g6 39.Kg1 h5 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.Qg3+ White technically is better, but neither side has the advantage.
• If 37.Qd4 Qe1+ 38.Nf1 Qb1 then:
• 39.g4 Kg8 40.f4 Qd1 41.f5 Qe1 42.f6 gxf6 43.Qxf6 Qe4 44.Qf5 gives White the edge,
• If White even for a moment loses contact with the queening square with 39.Qxc4?? then 39...d2! 40.Qd5 d1Q wins for Black.
• 35.Nf2 Qe3 36.Kg2 f5 37.Qb1 is equal.
• 32...Qc2 33.Rb8+ Kh7 34.Rb5 d2 35.Rd5 is equal.

31.Kg1 Rg2+ 32.Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33.Qf1 Qe3+

• If 33...d2 then:
• If 34.Nxd2 Qxd2 35.Qxc4 is equal.
• 34.Nf2? Qxc3 35.Qe2 Qc1+ 36.Kg2 Qc2 37.Qd1 Qb2! wins for Black.

34.Qf2 Qc1+ 35.Qf1 Qe3+

• 35...d2 36.Nxd2 Qxd2 37.Qxc4 is equal.

36.Kg2 f5 37.Nf2 Kh7

• If 37...g5 then after 38.Qb1 Kf7 39.g4 f4 40.Qb4 Qe6 41.Ne4 White retains the material advantage.

38.Qb1 Qe6 39.Qb5 g5 40.g4 fxg4 41.fxg4

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
""""""""#
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 41.fg4:p

• Although White is theoretically better with a piece for two pawns, his winning chances aren't very good.
• To state the obvious, Black's hope rest on his d-pawn, but his cances of pushing it over aren't very good, either.

41...Kg6 42.Qb7 d2 43.Qb1+!

• The pawn can go no further while White's pieces are in contact with the queening squares.

43...Kg7 44.Kf1 Qe7

• Black plays it safe.
• If 44...Qf6!? 45.Qc2! then:
• If 45...d1Q+ 46.Qxd1 Qxc3 47.Qd7+ Kf8 48.Qd6+ Kg7 49.Qe7+ is a likely draw as Black's King can't get out of check without exchanging Queens, which would be too risky for Black, and it would be even riskier for White to attempt to bring up the Knight and force checkmate.
• 45...Qf4? 46.Ke2! h5 47.gxh5 Qf7 48.Qxd2 Qxh5+ 49.Ke3 leaves White a piece to the good.

45.Kg2

• 45.Qb6 Qe1+ 46.Kg2 Qe2 47.Qd4+ Kf8 48.Qf6+ Ke8 is lifeless.

45...Qe6 46.Qd1

• If 46.Kf3 Qe1 47.Qb7+ Kf8 48.Qd7 then:
• 48...Qc1 49.Qd6+ Kg7 50.Qd4+ Kg6 51.Qe4+ Kf6 52.Qf5+ fails to give White a decisive advantage.
• 48...Kg8 49.Qd4 Kh7 50.Qxc4 d1Q+ 51.Nxd1 Qxd1+ 52.Qe2 gives White the advantage of the outside passer.
• If 46.Kf1 Qe7 47.Qb6 Qe1+ transposes into the note to White's 45th move.

46...Qe3 47.Qf3 Qe6 48.Qb7+

• 48.Nd1 Qe1 49.Ne3 Qxe3 50.Qxe3 d1Q is equal and a likely draw.

48...Kg6 49.Qb1+ Kg7 50.Qd1

• The position is repeated. See note to White's 46th move.
• In addition, 50.Kf1 Qe7 51.Kg2 invites a draw by repetition.

50...Qe3 51.Qc2 Qe2 52.Qa4 Kg8

• If 52...Kf7 53.Qd1 Qe1 54.Qf3+ Kg7 55.Qb7+ then:
• If 55...Kg6! 56.Qc6+ then:
• 56...Kg7 57.Qxc4 d1Q 58.Nxd1 Qxd1 59.Qd4+ Qxd4 60.cxd4 Kg6 is a likely draw.
• If 56...Kf7? then after 57.Qxc4+ Kf6 58.Qc6+ Kg7 59.Qd7+ Kf6 60.Kf3 White advances the c-pawn and wins.
• If 55...Kf8? 56.Qc6 d1Q 57.Nxd1 Qxd1 58.Qxh6+ then:
• 58...Kf7 59.Qh7+ Ke8 60.Qg8+ Kd7 61.Qxc4 gives White excellent winning chances.

Analysis Diagram
BLACK
!""""""""#
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WHITE
Position after 61.Qg8c4:p

• 58...Ke8 59.Qe6+ Kd8 60.Qg8+ Kd7 61.Qxc4 transposes.

53.Qd7 Kf8 54.Qd5 Kg7

• 54...Ke7 55.Qc5+ Kd7 56.Kg3 d1Q 57.Nxd1 Qxd1 58.Qxc4 is level; compare to the secondary line in the previous note, where White has very serious winning chances.

Analysis Diagram
BLACK
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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WHITE
Position after 58.Qd5c4:p
55.Kg3 Qe3+ 56.Qf3 Qe5+ 57.Kg2 Qe6 58.Qd1 ½-½

• This position occured on the 46th and 50th moves. The game is drawn by repetition.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Topalov - Anand, Round 8

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Veselin Topalov - Vishy Anand
Match for the World Title, Round 8
Sofia, 4 May 2010

Slav Queen's Gambit: Karlsbad Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3

• For moves and variations up to here, see Carlsen-Nakamura, IT, London, 2009.

7...c5

• If 7...Bb4 8.e4 Bxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 then:
• If 10.Bd2 Qxd4 11.Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Kxd2 Qd5+ then:
• If 14.Kc2 Na6 15.Nxc4 then:
• If 15...0-0-0 then:
• 16.Qe3 Nc5 17.Be2 Qxg2 18.Rhg1 Qxh2 19.Rxg7 Rd4 20.Qxd4 Qxe2+ 21.Nd2 Rd8 is equal (Kramnik-Shirov, IT, Dortmund, 1996).
• If 16.Qe5 f6 then:
• If 17.Qe3 then:
• If 17...Kb8 18.Be2 e5 19.Rad1 Qe6 20.Qa3 Nc7 21.Qb3 Rd4 22.Rxd4 exd4 is equal (Bacrot-Mednis, TMatch, Cannes, 1996).
• 17...Nb4+ 18.Kb3 c5 19.Rc1 Nc6 20.Ka3 Nd4 21.Bd3 Kb8 22.Be4 Qd7 23.Rhd1 Qc7 24.g4 g6 is equal (Krush-Nakamura, IT, New York, 2001).
• If 17.Qxd5 cxd5 18.Na3 Nb4+ 19.Kd2 Kd7 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Rc3 then:
• 21...b6 22.Bb5+ Kd6 23.Be2 a6 24.h4 Rhf8 25.h5 f5 26.h6 g6 27.Rhc1 Rc5 (Kramnik-Lautier, IT, Linares, 1994).
• 21...Rxc3 22.bxc3 Nc6 23.Be2 Rc8 24.Rb1 b6 25.Nb5 Ke7 26.g3 Rd8 is equal (Pachman-Donner, IT, Venice, 1967).
• If 15...0-0 16.Qe5 then:
• 16...Rfd8 17.Be2 f6 18.Qxd5 cxd5 19.Na5 Rac8+ 20.Kb1 then:
• If 20...Nc5 21.b4 Ne4 22.Kb2 Nd6 23.Rac1 Kf7 24.g4 g6 25.Bf3 f5 26.g5 h6 (T. L. Petrosian-Vukovic, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 20...Nb4 21.Nxb7 then:
• 21...Rc2 22.Re1 Rd2 23.Ra3 Nc2 24.Kc1 forces the win of the exchange (Kramnik-Haba, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1993).
• 21...Rd7 22.Na5 Rc2 23.Re1 d4 24.Bc4 Rc7 is equal.]
• 16...Rab8 17.a5 f6 18.Qxd5 cxd5 19.Ne3 Rfc8+ 20.Kb1 Nc5 21.Ra3 f5 22.Be2 Ne4 23.Rd1 Rc5 gives Black a better center (Onischuk-Grischuk, IT, Biel, 2007).
• If 14.Kc3 then:
• 14...Na6 15.Nxc4 0-0-0 16.Qe3 Qc5 17.Be2 Qxe3+ 18.Nxe3 Nc5 19.Rhd1 e5 is equal (Rajkovic-Matulovic, Yugoslav ChT, Niksic, 1997).
• 14...0-0 15.Qe3 b5 16.Be2 Nd7 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Qc5 Qd8 19.Rhd1 Qf6+ 20.Qd4 e5 21.Qe4 Rfd8 Black's four pawns show supremacy over White's Bishop (S. Ivanov-Motylev, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).
• 10.Qf3 Qxd4 11.Qxf7+ Kd8 12.Bg5+ Nxg5 13.Qxg7 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Ke2 Qc2+ 16.Ke1 Qc3+ 17.Ke2 draws by repetition (Khalifman-Serper, Soviet Ch 1st League, Tashkent, 1987 and others since).

8.e4 Bg6

• If 8...cxd4 9.exf5 then:
• If 9...Bb4 10.Bxc4 dxc3 11.Qxd8+ Kxd8 12.0-0 cxb2 13.Bxb2 Ke7 then:
• 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Nd3 Rc8 16.Bxe6 Kxe6 17.Nxb4 Nc6 18.Nd3 Kf7 19.Rac1 Ne7 20.Ne5+ Kg8 21.Nc4 Rc7 22.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space (Fridman-Mastrovasilis, Euro, Rijeka, 2010).
• 14.Nd3 Rc8 15.Bb3 Na6 16.Nxb4 Nxb4 17.a5 Nfd5 18.Rfe1 Rc6 19.Re4 Kd8 20.Rd1 gives White a much more active game which she soon won (Cramling-Barkhagen, IT, Hasselbacken, 2001).
• If 9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 then:
• If 12.Bxc4 dxc3 then:
• If 13.bxc3 Qa5 14.Qd3 Bc5 15.Bxe6 Ke7 16.Bb3 Rhe8 17.Bd2 Kf8+ 18.Kd1 Rad8 gives Black the advantage in space (M. Gurevich-Kupreichik, IT, Lvov, 1984).
• 13.Qxd8+ Rxd8 14.bxc3 Nd5 15.Bd2 Bd6 16.0-0-0 Kf7 17.Kc2 Rd7 18.g3 h5 is equal (Razuvaev-Dr. Hübner, TMatch, London, 1984).
• 12.Qe2 dxc3 13.Qxe6+ Qe7 14.Bxc4 Qxe6+ 15.Bxe6 cxb2 16.Bxb2 Bb4+ 17.Ke2 Ke7 18.Bc4 Rhd8 is equal (Topalov-Gelfand, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1996).

9.Be3

• If 9.d5 exd5 then:
• If 10.exd5 Bd6 11.Nxc4 0-0 12.Be2 Na6 then:
• 13.0-0 Nb4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Ne4 Bxe4 17.fxe4 Qe7 18.Bg4 Rad8 is equal (Bareev-Mastrovasilis, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 Nb4 15.0-0 Bf4 16.g3 Bc2 17.Qe1 Nd3 18.Bxd3 Bxd3 19.gxf4 Bxc4 20.Rf2 Qd6 igives Black fewer pawn weaknesses (Gordon-Kolbus, British Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
• 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.e5 Nh5 12.Nxd5 Na6 13.Be3 Ng3 14.Bxc4 Be7 15.Qb3 Nxh1 16.0-0-0 Rxh2 17.Qxb7 Rb8 18.Nf6+ gxf6 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Qd5+ Kc7 21.Qxf7 draw (Kasheishvili-Rogic, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 Rc8 14.Bb5

• If 14.Ba2 a6 15.h4 h6 16.Rc1 then:
• If 16...Rg8 17.Ke2 then:
• If 17...Bc5 18.Bxc5 Rxc5 19.b4 Rc6 20.h5 Bh7 21.Nb1 Ke7 22.Rxc6 bxc6 then:
• 23.Na3 Rb8 24.Nc2 c5 is equal (Gupta-Kaplan, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• 23.Nd2 Rb8 24.Rb1 f5 (Beliavsky-Pajkovic, Euro Club Cub, Ohrid, 2009).
• 17...Rc6 18.Rc2 Bc5 19.Bxc5 Rxc5 20.Rhc1 Ke7 21.Nd5+ Rxd5 22.exd5 draw (Timoshenko-Anamotov, Agzamov Mem, Tashkent, 2008).
• 16...Bc5 17.Ne2 0-0 18.0-0 Bd6 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Nf4 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Bh7 22.Kf1 Rb8 23.Ke2 Kf8 24.g4 Ke7 25.Ng2 f6 26.h5 Bg8 27.Ba7 Ra8 28.Bb6 Bf7 draw (Aronian-Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 14...a5 15.h4 h5 16.Rc1 Rg8 17.Ke2 Bc5 18.Nb5 Ke7 19.Bc3 gives White the advantage in space (Ponomariov-Rublevsky, Candidates' Matches, Elista, 2007).

14...a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7 16.Ke2

• 16.0-0-0 Ke8 17.Bb6 Be7 18.Rd4 Bf6 19.Rd3 Bd8 20.Bd4 f6 is equal (Gordon-Ledger, British Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

16...f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8

• "Anand gets out of the way of discovered checks," comments Malcolm Pein on The Week in Chess. "It is possibly too dangerous to go Queenside although that isn't clear."
• 17...Kc7 18.Rac1 then:
• If 18...Kb8! 19.Bb6 Be8 20.a5 Bc6 21.Rd2 g5 22.Rcd1 Bg7 gives White the advantage in space, but the position is far from decisive.
• Mr. Pein suggests 18...Be8!? 19.b4 Bxb4?? 20.Nb5+! when White mates in two (puncuation mine).
• Black escapes after 19...Kb8! 20.e5 Bxb4 with equality, so it appears to me that Black can go queenside.

18.a5!?

• 18.Rac1 Rc6 19.Na2 Rxc1 20.Nxc1 Be7 21.Bb6 e5 22.Nd3 gives White the advantage in space (Maletin-Amonatov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

18...Be7

• White has the advantage in space.

19.Bb6!

• This prevents Black from playing ...Rc7 to guard the seventh rank from penetration by the White Rook now at d1; consequently, it also prevents Black from castling, since the King must guard d7.

19...Rf8 20.Rac1 f5!?

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 20...f6f5

• Black is setting a little trap on the h6/c1 diagonal.
• Better is 20...Rc4 21.Kd3 Rc6 22.Ke3 Rf7 23.f4 with equality.

21.e5

• White closes the center.

21...Bg5

• Black sets out the bait...

22.Be3

• White takes the bait...

22...f4

• The trap springs...

23.Ne4!

• ... and White threatens 24.Nd6!.

23...Rxc1 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Bxc1

• White has the advantage in space and Black a hemmed-in dark-bound Bishop.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 25.Be3c1:R

25...Kc6 26.Bd2 Be7 27.Rc1+ Kd7 28.Bc3 Bxd6

• Having the two Bishops soesn't do any good if they can't be used in coordination with each other.

29.Rd1!

• White would like to recapture with a piece.

29...Bf5 30.h4!?

• White restrains Black's kingside.
• If 30.Rxd6+ Ke8 31.g4 then:
• If 31...fxg3 32.hxg3 h5 33.f4 Rf7 34.Ke3 Rc7 35.Kd4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 31...Bb1? 32.Rxe6+ Kd7 33.Rb6 Kc8 34.e6 leaves White a pawn to the good with a strong attack on almost every part of Black's position.

30...g6?!

• Mr. Pein doesn't like this move at all, but alternatives seem little better.
• 30...Rd8 31.Rxd6+ Kc7 32.Rxd8 Kxd8 33.Bd2 Kc7 34.Bxf4 leaves White a pawn to the good, but in a Bishops-of-opposite-color ending that might not be enough to win.
• If 30...Kc7 then:
• 31.exd6+ Kd7 32.Be5 Bc2 33.Rd2 Ba4 leaves White clearly better, but still not decisively better.
• 31.Rxd6 Rd8 32.Rxd8 Kxd8 transposes into the red line.

31.Rxd6+ Kc8 32.Bd2 Rd8 33.Bxf4 Rxd6 34.exd6 Kd7

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 34...Kc8d7

• Mr. Pein reports here that Pentala Harikrishna suggested that White could win by maneuvering his King to h6 and pushing his h-pawn. That is exactly how some of the ensuing variations favorable to White work; see, for example, the note to Black's 37th move.
• Harikrishna's idea is basically a good one, but ther is one caveat that should be noted. It doesn't work if the Black King is blockading the d-pawn and Black's Bishop is protecting the pawns at g6 and/or h7 by running up and down the h6/c1 diagonal. Then the game is drawn.
• Another factor working against Black is that he will run out of reserve pawn tempi, which will make him susceptible to Zunzwang. However, he is going to run out of reserve pawn tempi whether he can set up the drawing apparatus or if he doesn't. Therefore, setting up the drawing appartatus is not the most important thing for him to do, it is the only thing for him to do.
• It also should be noted that if the White King abandons the kingside, the Black Bishop may remain on the e8/a4 diagonal to stop the advance of the pawn, but this is riskier.
• So, does Harikrishna's idea need some refinement? Yes. The actual key square for White is not h6, but f6. If he can occupy f6 with his King and play ...d6d7 while the White King is no closer to the d-pawn than the f-file, White wins. Alternately, if White can take the e-pawn while the Black King is on d8, he can check the King with his Bishop, forcing the Black King to give way for the pawn, winning.

35.Ke3 Bc2 36.Kd4 Ke8!?

• Black King is fine where he is and should either remain on the d7 square or stay in contact with it.
• 36...Bb3 37.Bg3 Bd5 38.b4 h5 39.Ke5 Bc4 40.Kf6 favors White.

37.Ke5 Kf7

• If 37...Kd7? 38.Kf6! Bd3 39.Kg7 Ke8 40.g4 then:
• If 40...h5 then White wins after 41.gxh5 gxh5 42.Kh6.
• If 40...Kd7 41.g5 Bc2 42.Kxh7 Ke8 43.Be5 then:
• If 43...Kf7 then 44.Kh6 Ba4 45.h5 gxh5 46.g6+ wins.
• If 43...Bd3 44.Kg7 then:
• If 44...Kd7 then after 45.Kh6 Ke8 46.h5 White wins.
• 44...Bc2 45.Kh6 Kf7 46.h5 gxh5 47.g6+ Bxg6 48.d7 wins the Bishop.

38.Be3?!

• Here White loses any clear win.
• If 38.Bg5 then:
• If 38...Ba4 39.Bf6 Ke8 40.Kxe6 wins for White.
• If 38...Bf5? loses immediately to 39.d7.

38...Ba4 39.Kf4

• If 39.Bg5 then:
• If 39...Bd7! 40.g4 h5 then:
• 41.b3 Bb5 42.Bf6 Bc6 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.f4 Bb5 allows White to make no further progress.
• If 41.Bf4 Bc6 42.gxh5 gxh5 43.Kd4 Bxf3 then:
• If 44.Kc5 Ke8 45.Kb6 Bc6 46.Kc7 Bb5 then:
• 47.Be5 Bc6 48.Bd4 Bb5 49.b3 Bc6 draws.
• 47.Kxb7 Kd7 48.b3 Be2 draws.
• 44.Ke5 Bd5 45.Bg5 Ke8 46.b4 Kd7 draws.
• If 39...Bc2? then 40.d7! wins easily for White.

39...Bb5 40.Bc5 Kf6 41.Bd4+ Kf7

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 41...Kf6f7

• If 41...e5+ 42.Bxe5+ Ke6 43.Ke4 then:
• 43...Ba4! 44.Bf4 Bb5 45.b3 Kd7 46.Be5 Bc6+ 47.Kd4 Bb5 48.Bh2 Bc6 leaves everybody dead in the water.
• 43...Bc6+ 44.Kd4 Ba4 45.Bf4 Bb3 46.Kc5 is less clear.

42.Kg5 Bc6

• If 42...Bf1 43.g3 Bg2 44.f4 then:
• If 44...h5 45.Bf6 Bc6 46.b3 then:
• 46...Bd7 47.Bd8 Bb5 48.Bb6 Bc6 49.Bd4 Be4 50.Bb2 gives White good winning chances.
• 46...Bb5 47.Be5 Bd3 48.Bb2 Ke8 sets up the drawing strategem (see note to Black's 34th move).
• If 44...Ke8? 45.Kh6! Be4 46.Kxh7 then:
• 46...Kd7 47.Be5 Bd3 48.Kh6 Be4 49.g4! White wins.
• 46...Kf7 47.Kh6 Bf5 48.Be5 Ke8 49.g4 Bxg4 50.Kxg6 wins for White.

43.Kh6 Kg8 44.h5 Be8

• 44...gxh5 45.Kxh5 Be8+ 46.Kh6 Bb5 47.g4 Bc6 48.f4 gives White good winning chances as White can advance his kingside pawns, Black's Bishop cannot abandon the defense agains the advance of the d-pawn, the Black cannot abandon the h-pawn and Black is out of reserve pawn tempi.

45.Kg5 Kf7 46.Kh6 Kg8 47.Bc5 gxh5

• 47...Kf7?! 48.hxg6+ hxg6 49.f4 Kf6 50.Bd4+ Kf5 51.Be5 leaves Black out of reserve pawn tempi and thus favors White.

48.Kg5 Kg7!

• 48...Bb5? 49.Kf6! Kf8 50.d7+ wins for White.

49.Bd4+

• 49.Bf2!? Kf7 50.Kf4 Ba4 51.b4 Ke8 52.Bh4 Kd7 53.Ke5 Bc2! draws.

49...Kf7!

• The King heads for d7, securing the draw as the Bishop cannot be prevented from maneuvering to the h6/c1 diagonal via b5 or a4.

50.Be5

• This is the correct square for the Bishop, but now Black draws unless he blunders.
• 50.Kh6 h4 51.Be5 Bb5 52.Kg5 Bf1 53.Kxh4 Bxg2 54.f4 Be4 draws.
• 50.Bf2 h4 51.Bxh4 Ba4 52.Bg3 Bc2 53.Kh6 Ke8 draws.

50...h4

• 50...Bb5! 51.Kxh5 Bf1 52.g4 Be2 53.f4 Bd3 54.Kh6! transposes into the note after Black's 54th move.

51.Kxh4 Kg6!?

• 51...Bb5! 52.Kg5 Bd3 53.g4 Ke8 54.Kf6 Kd7 55.g5 Bc2! accomplishes Black's goal. Even with no reserve pawn tempi, he draws.

52.Kg4 Bb5 53.Kf4 Kf7 54.Kg5

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 54.Kg4g5

54...Bc6??

• The analist on ChessBase.com points out, "Anand played the only losing move." Black must use the Bishop to defend the h-pawn and the King to black the d-pawn. All else is folly.
• After 54...Bd3 55.Kh6 Bb1 56.g4 Ke8 57.Kg7 Bc2 58.b3 Kd7 59.g5 Bg6 Black need only move his Bishop back and forth on the diagonal to draw.

55.Kh6! Kg8 56.g4 1-0

• Black is toast.
• If 56...Be8 57.f4! (Black is out of reserve pawn tempi) 57...Ba4 58.Bc3 Bd7 59.b3 Be8 60.g5! Bd7 61.Bf6 then:
• If 61...Be8 62.Bg7! Bd7 63.g6!! (the critical move cannot be made while the Black Bishop occupies e8) 63...hxg6 64.Kxg6 then:
• 64...Be8+ 65.Kf6 Bc6 66.Kxe6 Kxg7 67.d7 Bxd7+ 68.Kxd7 wins for White.
• 64...Bc6 65.Bh6 Be8+ 66.Kf6 Bd7 67.Ke7 Bc6 68.Kxe6 Bb5 69.d7 Bxd7+ 70.Kxd7 wins for White.
• If 61...Bc6 62.Bg7 Be8 63.Ba1 Bd7 64.g6!! hxg6 65.Kxg6 Kf8 then:
• 66.Bg7+ Ke8 67.Kf6 Kd8 68.Bf8 Bc8 69.Kf7 Kd7 70.Be7 Kc6 71.Ke8 Bd7+ 72.Kd8 Kd5 73.Kxd7 wins for White.
• 66.Kf6 Ke8 67.Be5 Kd8 68.Kf7 Bc8 69.Bg7 Kd7 70.Bf8 Kd8 71.Be7+ Kd7 72.Kf8 Kc6 73.Ke8 Bd7+ 74.Kd8 Black can make no move that doesn't lose material.
• World Champion Anand resigns.

[Auggie]

9. Beautiful

[Jack Rabbit]

14. How do you like the one of Sarajevo

I've been using that one for years.

[Auggie]

17. +1

[Jack Rabbit]

6. FIDE Women's Grand Prix, Third Leg, Nalchik

Nalchik Springs
Photo by Wassily in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike]

[Jack Rabbit]

7. T. Kosintseva - Dzagnidze, Round 5

Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Tatiana Kosintseva - Nana Dzagnidze
Women's Grand Prix, Third Leg, Round 5
Nalchik, 30 April 2010

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7

• If 5...c5 6.Be3 then:
• If 6...Nd7 then:
• If 7.0-0 Ne7 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3 then:
• If 9...c3 10.Nb5 Nd5 11.Nxc3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 then:
• 12...Be7 13.Qb3 0-0!? 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 cxd4 16.exd4 Ra8 gives Black counterplay (Morozevich-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Be7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.a4 0-0 16.a5 b5 17.axb6 Rxb6 18.Qa2 is equal (Knebel-Johansson, Corres, 1994).
• 9...Nd5 10.Nxc4 b5 11.Bg5 Qb8 12.Ne3 h6 13.Bh4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 a6 15.a4 b4 16.Nd2 g5 17.Bg3 Qa7 18.Nc4 gives White a tactical edge in the center (Halsinger-Stratling, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• If 7.Nbd2 then:
• If 7...c4 then:
• 8.a4 h6 9.b3 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Rc8 11.Ra2 Qc7 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.0-0 Qc4 15.Rb1 b6 16.Qf1 Nc6 is equal (Svidler-Topalov, IT, Nanjing, 2008).
• 8.c3 b5 9.0-0 Nh6 10.Ne1 Bg6 11.g4 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Ng2 Nb6 14.b3 Nf7 15.a4 Nd6 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Qc1 Qc7 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qb2 makes Black's King safety a major concern (Alekseev-David, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 8.0-0 b5 9.Ne1 Bg6 10.g4 Bb4 11.c3 Ba5 12.Ng2 Ne7 13.Nf4 b4 14.Rc1 bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.h4 h5 17.Nxg6 Nxg6 18.gxh5 Nxh4 19.Bg4 Qe7 also presents Black with some difficulty bringing the King to safety (Rublevsky-Dreev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• 7...Ne7 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Nb3 Bg4 10.Nfd4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Ndxe5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7 is equal (Short-Adianto, IT, Djakarta, 1996).
• If 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 then:
• 8.Bg5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bg6 10.Nb3 Qb6 11.Nb5 Nec6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Qd2 0-0 16.a3 Be7 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rad1 h6 19.Rfe1 Nb6 is equal (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corres, 1999).
• 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 Bd3 12.Bxd3 cxd3 13.Rxd3 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.f4 Rd8 16.Rhd1 h5 17.h4 Nec6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 Rh6 draw (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• If 5...Nd7 6.0-0 Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nh6 8.Nb3 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.Ne1 then:
• 9...0-0 10.Nd3 Rc8 11.c3 b6 12.Nf4 c5 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.g4 c4 15.Nd2 g5 16.Bf3 b5 17.Bg2 b4 18.h3 Rb8 is equal (Ganguly-Antonio, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• 9...Nf5 10.Nd3 0-0 11.c3 Qb6 12.Bf4 Rac8 13.g4 Nh4 14.Bg3 Bxd3 15.Bxd3 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Rxc5 draw (S. Zhigalko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• 8...Nf5 9.Bd2 Rc8 10.Rc1 transposes into And. Volokiitin-Jobava and accompaning branches (see note to White's sixth move).

6.0-0

• If 6.Nbd2 Bg6 7.0-0 Nf5 8.Nb3 Nd7 then:
• If 9.Bd2 then:
• If 9...Rc8 10.Rc1 then:
• 10...Bh5 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 c5 13.dxc5 Nxe5 14.Re1 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Be7 16.c4 dxc4 is equal (And. Volokitin-Jobava, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 10...Be7 11.g4 Nh6 12.h3 0-0 13.Bd3 Kh8 14.Qe2 Ng8 15.Kg2 c5 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.c3 c4 gives Black a slight advantage in space and the initiative (Rublevsky-Asrian, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 10...a6 11.c4 dxc4 12.Rxc4 Be7 13.Na5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qa8 15.g4 Nh6 16.Bb4 Nb6 17.Bxe7 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Rxe7 gives Black the advantage of the exchange (And. Volokitin-Anastasian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 9...Be7 10.g4 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4 then:
• 12...f5 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nc1 Qb6 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c4 fxg4 17.Bxg6+ hxg6 18.Qc2 Nf8 19.cxd5 exd5 20.f5 0-0-0 21.Bf4 gxf5 22.e6 Bd6 23.Qxf5 Re8 24.Nc5 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 b6 26.e7+ draw (Radjabov-I. Popov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 12...f6 13.f5 Bf7 14.g5 exf5 15.Bd3 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 fxg5 17.Bxf5 Bg6 18.Qg4 Qe7 19.Rae1 0-0-0 20.Bxd7+ Qxd7 21.e6 Qe7 22.Nc5 h5 23.Qg3 h4 24.Qg4 Bh5 25.Qh3 Kb8 26.Re5 b6 27.Nd7+ Kb7 28.Qe3 Rh6 29.Rff5 Bg6 30.Qxg5 Re8 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.Rf8 Kc7 33.Ra8 Kb7 34.Rb8+ Kc7 35.Ra8 Kb7 36.Rb8+ Kc7 draw (Rublevsky-Jobava, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).
• 9.a4 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.g4 Nh6 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3 Kh8 13.Qd2 Ng8 14.Ne1 f6 15.f4 fxe5 16.dxe5 c5 17.c4 d4 18.Bf2 Bh4 19.Bxh4 Qxh4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Li Chao-Rodshtein, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

6...Nd7 7.Nbd2

• If 7.Nh4 then:
• If 7...Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 then:
• If 9...Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3 a6 13.g3 then:
• 13...g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8 16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Li WenLiang, IT, Beijing, 1996).
• 13...b5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 c4 16.Kg2 a5 17.Nd2 Rc8 18.Rc1 a4 19.bxc4 bxc4 20.Qc2 a3 21.Rb1 Ra8 22.Bg4 Na4 23.Nf3 Qd7 24.Rh1 Kd8 25.h5 gives White the advantage in space (Efimenko-L'Ami, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 then:
• If 10...Nc6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7 13.Be3 then:
• 13...Nb6 14.b3 0-0 15.g3 a5 16.a4 Rc8 17.Rc1 Rc7 18.h4 Qb8 is equal (Amonatov-Malakhatko, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2009).
• 13...Qb6 14.Rb1 a6 15.g3 0-0 16.h4 Qa5 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Bc3 is equal (Rosito-Martínez, Op, Buenos Aires, 1995).
• 10...Nf5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7 13.Bd3 Nb8 14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Bc3 a6 16.b3 is equal (Anand-Karpov, IT, Brussels, 1991).
• 7...Be4 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.g3 Be7 12.Ng2 cxd4 13.cxd4 0-0 14.Be3 Nb6 15.Rc1 Nd5 16.Qc2 Qb6 17.Qxe4 Qxb2 18.Bd3 gives White the initiative (I. Smirin-Anand, Op, Villarrobledo, 1998).

7...Ng6

• If 7...h6 8.Nb3 then:
• If 8...Bh7 then:
• If 9.Bd2 Ng6 10.Rc1 Be7 11.c4 dxc4 then:
• 12.Bxc4 0-0 13.g3 Re8 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Na5 Rb8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6 19.Qb3 Re7 is equal (Malakhov-Jobava, Euro Club Cup Rd 4, Kallithea, 2008).
• 12.Na5 Rb8 13.Bxc4 Nb6 14.Bd3 Nf8 15.Be2 Nfd7 16.b4 0-0 17.Ne1 Nd5 18.a3 f6 is equal (Malakhov-Saltaev, Euro Club Cup Rd 7, Kallithea, 2008).
• 9.c3 Rc8 10.Bd2 Nf5 11.a4 Be7 12.g4 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.f4 f5 15.Bd3 0-0 16.h3 Qe7 17.Be3 Rf7 18.Kg2 Rcf8 19.Qc2 Kh8 is equal (Pavasovic-Macieja, Cyberspace, 2006).
• If 8...Nc8 9.a4 Be7 10.a5 a6 then:
• If 11.c4 Na7 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nfd2 then:
• 13...dxc4 14.Nxc4 Be4 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 gives White the advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave - Nakamura, French ChT, Metz, 2008).
• 13...Bh7 14.f4 f5 15.Bd3 g5 16.Nf3 g4 draw (Sebag-Kallai, French ChT, Metz, 2008).
• 11.Ne1 c5 12.c3 Na7 13.g4 Bh7 14.f4 Nc6 15.Be3 c4 16.Nd2 Nxa5 gives Black an extra pawn (Bologan-Drazic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

8.Nb3 h5!?

• 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 f6 11.Bh5 fxe5 12.dxe5 Ndxe5 13.Re1 Kd7 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.Bxg6 Qf6 16.Rxe5 Qxe5 17.Nf3 Qg3 18.Qe2 hxg6 gives Black a material edge and more activity (Svidler-Jobava, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

9.Be3

• The game is equal.

9...Be7 10.Ne1

• If 10.Re1 Qc7 11.Rc1 h4 12.h3 0-0 then:
• 13.Bd3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 a5 15.Ng5 Qc8 16.Qe2 gives White more space in the center.
• 13.Bg5 Bxg5 14.Nxg5 f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 16.Bg4 Qf4 is equal.

10...h4 11.f4 Nb6

• If 11...Qb6 12.c4 then:
• 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qd8 14.Bd3 Nb6 15.Nc5 Nd5 16.Qe2 remains equal.
• 12...0-0 13.c5 Qc7 14.Bg4 Bxg4 15.Qxg4 b6 16.f5 gives White the advantage in space.

12.Nd2 c5!?

• Black provokes White into the opening of the center.
• 12...Qc7 13.a4 0-0-0 14.a5 Nd7 15.Nd3 remains equal.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$t+ Wl+ T%
$Oo+ VoO %
$ M +o+m+%
$+ OoP + %
$ + P P O%
$+ + B + %
$pPpNb+pP%
$R +qNrK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 12...c6c5

13.dxc5!

• White seizes the initiative and opens the center, for which she is better prepared in the first place.

13...d4 14.Bf2 Nd5 15.Bxd4

• White emerges a pawn to the good.
• 15.Nb3 Ngxf4 16.Bb5+ Kf8 17.Nxd4 Bg6 18.c4 also leaves White with an extra pawn.

15...Ndxf4 16.c3

• If 16.Bb5+ then after 16...Kf8 17.Nb3 Qd5 18.Nf3 a6 19.Bd3 White still has an extra pawn

16...Qc7 17.b4 f6

• If 17...0-0-0 18.Nc4 Kb8 then:
• 19.Nd6 f6 20.exf6 gxf6 21.Nxf5 exf5 22.Bd3 White will win a second pawn.
• If 19.Nd3 then:
• 19...Nxe2+ 20.Qxe2 h3 21.g3 Qc6 22.Ne1 f6 23.g4 wins the Bishop.
• 19...Nxd3 20.Bxd3 h3 21.g3 Qc6 22.Rf2 Bxd3 23.Qxd3 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

18.Nc4

• If 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nc4 then:
• 20...Nxe2+ 21.Qxe2 0-0-0 22.Nd6+ Rxd6 23.cxd6 Qxd6 24.Rd1 leaves White an exchange to the good.
• 20...0-0 21.Nd6 Rad8 22.Bg4 Be4 23.Qc1 e5 24.Nxe4 leaves White up by a piece.

18...fxe5 19.Nxe5 0-0-0 20.Nxg6 Bxg6 21.Bg4 Kb8

• 21...Rhf8 22.g3 hxg3 23.hxg3 Nd3 24.Bxe6+ is devastating.

22.Nf3 Bf6 23.Qe1 Rd5

• If 23...Bd3 24.Rf2 Rhe8 25.Ne5 then:
• 25...Rd5 26.Rxf4 Bxe5 27.Bxe5 Rxe5 28.Qf2 Re4 29.Rxe4 Bxe4 30.Qxh4 leaves White up by two pawns.
• If 25...g5 26.c6 Rf8 27.Qe3 then:
• 27...Nd5 28.Bxa7+ Ka8 29.cxb7+ Kxb7 30.Qxd3 Kxa7 31.Ng6 leaves White up by two pawns.
• 27...Rxd4 28.cxd4 Be4 29.Nd7+ Ka8 30.cxb7+ Qxb7 31.Nxf8 wins for White.

24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Nd4 Re5

• If 25...Re8 26.Nb5 Qe5 then:
• 27.Qxe5+ fxe5 28.Nd6 Rf8 29.Rf2 Rd3 30.c4 gives White a clear advantage in space to go with her extra pawn.
• If 27.Nd6 Qg5 28.Rxf4 Rxd6 29.cxd6 Qxf4 30.d7 then:
• 30...Qxg4 31.dxe8Q+ Bxe8 32.Qd2 leaves White up by an exchange and threatenin mate on the next move.
• 30...Rd8 31.Qxe6 Bc2 32.Rf1 leaves White two pawns up and wins.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$ L + + T%
$OoW + + %
$ + +oOv+%
$+ P T + %
$ P N MbP%
$+ P + + %
$p+ + +pP%
$R + QrK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 25...Rd5e5

26.Qf2!?

• White misses an even more powerful move.
• White send Black reeling after 26.Qd2! then:
• 26...Re4 27.Bf3 e5 28.Bxe4 Bxe4 29.Nb5, leaving White up by an exchange.
• 26...Nd5 27.Nxe6 Qc6 28.c4 Ne3 29.Rxf6 Nxg4 30.Rxg6 leaves White up by three pawns.

26...Re4 27.Nxe6

• If 27.Bxe6 h3 28.g3 Qg7 29.Bc4 then:
• If 29...Rc8 30.c6 bxc6 then:
• 31.Ba6 Rc7 32.gxf4 Rxd4 33.cxd4 Bd3+ 34.Qg3 Qxg3+ 35.hxg3 Bxa6 36.Rfc1 gives White an exchange and a pawn.
• 31.Rae1 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Nd3 33.Bxd3 Bxd3 34.Qf4+ leaves White with an extra pawn.
• 29...f5 30.c6 Ng2 31.cxb7 Qxb7 32.Bd3 Re5 33.Bxf5 Bxf5 34.Nxf5 leaves White three pawns to the good.

27...Nxe6 28.Qxf6 Rxg4 29.Qxh8+ Qc8 30.Qe5+ Ka8 31.Rad1!?

• This inaccuracy should have allowed Black back in the game.
• 31.Rf6! Qc6 32.Qe2 Re4 33.Qd2 Qe8 34.Rd1 maintains White's winning edge.

31...Be4 32.Rd2 Qg8

• Bkack threatens mate in two.

33.Rff2!

• The threat is parried.

33...Nf4 34.Qxf4 Rxf4 35.Rxf4 a5?

• This move has no connection with the action and it is hard to see how it fits into any plan Black might have.
• If 35...Bxg2 36.Rxg2 Qe8 37.Re4 then:
• If 37...Qd8 38.Rd4 Qe8 then:
• If 39.Re2 Qg6+ 40.Kh1 a5 then:
• 41.Rde4 h3 42.bxa5 Qf6 43.Kg1 Qxc3 44.Re8+ Ka7 45.Kf2 Qxc5+ gives Black a fighting chance.
• 41.Rxh4? Qf6! 42.Re8+ Ka7 43.Rg4 Qf3+ 44.Rg2 Qd1+ 45.Rg1 Qf3+ etc. draws.
• 39.Kf1 h3 40.Rg3 a5 41.a3 Qf7+ 42.Kg1 Qe7 43.Rxh3 Qe1+ 44.Kg2 Qe2+ 45.Kg3 Qe3+ 46.Kg4 Qe6+ etc. draws.
• 37...Qf7? 38.Re7! Qf8 39.Reg7 Kb8 40.Rg8 wins for White.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$l+ + +w+%
$+o+ + + %
$ + + + +%
$O P + + %
$ P +vR O%
$+ P + + %
$p+ R +pP%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 35...a6a5

36.Rxe4

• Black is the equivalent of four pawns up.

36...h3 37.Re3 Qg5 38.Rde2 hxg2 39.Rg3 Qd5

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$l+ + + +%
$+o+ + + %
$ + + + +%
$o Pw+ + %
$ P + + +%
$+ P + R %
$p+ +r+oP%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 39...Qg5d5

40.Rf2!

• White is in no hurry to capture the pawn.
• If 40.Rexg2 then Black's improeves her position after 40...Qd1+ 41.Kf2 Qd2+ 42.Kf3 Qxc3+.

40...axb4 41.cxb4 Qd4 42.a3 Ka7

• Black's g-pawn is a gonner.
• 42...Qd5 43.h3 Qe4 44.Rgf3 Ka7 45.Kxg2 wins the pawn.

43.Kxg2

• White has a clearly won position, but Black will be able to make advancing the pawns difficult.
• 43.h3 Ka6 44.Kxg2 Kb5 45.Re2 Qd5+ 46.Kh2 Qf7 47.Rge3 also gives White a won position.

43...Qd5+ 44.Rgf3 Ka6

• If 44...Qg5+ 45.Kh1 Ka6 46.h3 then:
• If 46...Kb5 47.Rf7 Qd5+ then:
• If 48.Kh2 Qe5+ 49.Kg2 Qg5+ 50.Kf3 then:
• 50...Ka4 51.Ke4 Qh4+ 52.R2f4 Qxh3 53.Rxb7 it looks like White wins, but after 53...Qg2+ 54.Rf3 Qg4+ 55.Ke3 Qg5+ then:
• 56.Ke4 Qe5+ 57.Kxe5 is stalemate.
• 56.Kf2 Qh4+ 57.Kg2 Qg5+ 58.Kh3 Qh5+ 59.Kg3 etc. draws.
• If 50...Qd5+ then after 51.Kg4 Qe6+ 52.Kg3 Qe3+ 53.R2f3 Qg5+ 54.Kh2 leaves White the equivalent of four pawns to the good.
• If 48.R2f3 then after 48...Qe4 49.Kg2 Kc6 50.R7f4 Qg6+ 51.Kf2 Qc2+ 52.Kg3 Qg6+ 53.Rg4 Qe6 54.h4 Qe1+ the struggle continues.
• If 46...Qd5 then after 47.Kg2 Qg5+ 48.Kh2 Qe5+ 49.Rf4 like the energizer bunny, the game keeps on going.

45.h4

• Well, that's prograss,

45...Kb5 46.Kg3 Ka4 47.Rf5 Qe4 48.R2f3 Qe1+ 49.Kg4 Qg1+

• 49...Qe4+ 50.R5f4 Qg6+ 51.Kh3 Kb5 52.Rf5 Kc4 53.h5 White makes steady progress.

50.Kh5 Qg8 51.Rf7 Qh8+ 52.Kg4 Qg8+ 53.Kh3 Qg1

• 53...Qh8 54.R7f6 Qe8 55.R6f5 Qh8 56.h5 makes progress.

54.h5 Qg5 55.R7f5 Qc1 56.Kh4 Qh1+ 57.Kg5 Qg1+ 58.Kh6

• If 58.Kf6 Kb5 59.Kf7 Qh2 60.Kg6 Qg2+ 61.Kh7 then:
• If 61...Kc4 62.h6 Qe2 63.Kg7 then:
• 63...Qe7+ 64.Rf7 Qg5+ 65.Kh7 Qe5 66.R3f5 Qe4 67.Kg8 Qg2+ 68.Kf8 Qb2 69.h7 Qh8+ 70.Ke7 Kd4 71.Kd7 White wins by taking the b-pawn.
• 63...Qg2+ 64.Kh8 Qb2+ 65.Rf6 Qe5 66.h7 Qc7 67.R3f4+ Kb3 68.Kg8 Qd8+ 69.Kg7 Qe7+ 70.Kh6 Qe8 71.Rf3+ Ka4 72.b5 Ka5 73.c6 gives White a second passed pawn and wins.
• 61...Qe2 62.h6 Qe7+ 63.Rf7 transposes to the main line.

58...b5 59.R3f4 Qc1 60.Kh7 Kxa3

• Black has no way to check the King. White is free to advance the pawn.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + +k%
$ + + + +%
$+oP +r+p%
$ P + R +%
$L + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ W + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 60...Ka4a3:p

61.h6

• Closer and closer,

61...Kb3

• 61...Qe1 62.c6 Qe2 63.Rf6 allows White to win on either side of the board.

62.Kg6 Qg1+ 63.Rg5 Qe3

• If 63...Qb1+ 64.Kg7 Qb2+ 65.Kh7 Qd2 66.Rf3+ Kxb4 67.Kg6 then:
• If 67...Qc2+ 68.Rff5 Qe4 69.h7 Qe6+ 70.Rf6 Qe4+ 71.Rgf5 then:
• If 71...Qg4+ 72.Kh6 Qh4+ 73.Kg7 Qg4+ 74.Kf8 Qh3 75.Rf7 Kc4 76.c6 Qh6+ 77.Kg8 Qg6+ then:
• If 78.Kh8 Qxc6 79.Rf4+ then:
• 79...Kd3 80.Rf3+ Ke4 81.Kg7 wins for White.
• 79...Kc5 loses immediately to 80.R7f5+! Kb6 81.Rf6.
• If 78.Rg7? 78...Qxf5 79.h8Q Qc8+ 80.Kh7 Qh3+ 81.Kg8 Qc8+ etc. draws.
• If 71...Qe8+ then 72.Rf7 Qe6+ 73.Kg7 Qe3 74.Rf4+ allows White to queen on the next move.
• If 67...Qd1 then 68.h7 Qd8 69.Rf4+ Ka5 70.Rh5 Qe8+ 71.Rf7 Qe6+ 72.Rf6 Qe8+ 73.Kg7!! Qxh5 74.h8Q! wins.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + +kP%
$+oP + R %
$ P + R +%
$+l+ W + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 63...Qg1e3

64.h7

• White is on the brink of victory.

64...Qe6+ 65.Rf6 Qe4+

• If 65...Qe8+ then after 66.Rf7 Qe4+ 67.Kh6 Qh4+ 68.Rh5 Qd4 69.Rf8 the pawn cannot be prevented from queening.

66.Rgf5 Qg2+ 67.Kh6

• If 67.Kf7 Qh2 68.Kg7 then Black runs out of checks after 68...Qc7+ 69.Kh6 Qh2+ 70.Rh5 Qd2+ 71.Rg5 Qd8 72.Rgf5 Qd2+ 73.Kg7 Qd7+ 74.Rf7 Qd4+ 75.Kg6 Qg1+ 76.Rg5 Qd4 77.Re7 Qd3+ 78.Kh6 Qd8 79.Rge5, leaving White with an easy win.

67...Qh3+ 68.Kg7 Qg4+ 69.Rg6 Qxf5 70.h8Q

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
""""""""#
$ + + + Q%
$+ + + K %
$ + + +r+%
$+oP +w+ %
$ P + + +%
$+l+ + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 70.h7h8Q

70...Qd7+

• As soon as Black runs out of checks, she will resign.

71.Kg8 Qc8+ 72.Kh7 Qh3+ 73.Rh6 Qf5+ 74.Kg7 Qd7+ 75.Kf6 Qd4+ 76.Ke7 Qe4+ 77.Kd6 Qf4+ 78.Kc6 Qe4+ 79.Kb6 1-0

• Black is out of checks.
• Ms. Dzagnidze resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Danielian - Hou Yifan, Round 6

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Elina Danielian - Hou Yifan
Women's Grand Prix, Third Leg, Round 6
Nalchik, 2 May 2010

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Nimzo-Ragozin Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Bb4

• For a more detailed look at the main lines of this opening, see Zhao Xue-N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009.

5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qa4+

• If 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 then:
• If 13.Bxd7 Nb6 15.f3 then:
• If 15...Bxc3 Nxd7 then:
• If 14.Rae1 16.bxc3 then:
• If 16...Na4 17.Rc1 then:
• 17...Bd7 18.Bh6 Re6 19.e4 Rae8 20.Bf4 Rc8 is equal (Bielicki-Braga, IT, La Plata, 1997).
• 17...f6 18.Bh6 b5 19.h4 Qc7 20.Bf4 Qf7 21.e4 Nb6 is equal (Romanko-Dzebskaja, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009).
• 16...Bd7 17.h4 Re6 18.e4 f6 19.Bf4 Rae8 20.h5 Ba4 21.Qc1 Bc6 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Qc2 Ba4 24.Qb2 Bc6 draw (Zhu Chen-Ioseliani, OlW, Istanbul, 2000).
• 15...Bd7 16.h4 Na4 17.Ndb1 Bf8 18.e4 Nb6 is equal (Zhu Chen-Dreev, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• If 14.a3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.f3 Bd7 then:
• If 17.h4 Ba4 18.Qc1 Bc6 19.Rb1 Re6 20.Re1 Rae8 21.Nf1 Na4 22.Rb4 Qc7 then:
• 23.g4 f6 24.Bh6 f5 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.Bf4 Qxf4 27.exf4 Rxe1 28.Qc2 R8e2 29.Qxf5 Nxc3 is unclear: Black has a little more space; White has a Queen for a Rook and a minor piece and his King is safer (Kouatly-Plachetka, Bangaux, 1982).
• 23.Re2 b5 24.g4 Kg7 25.Rg2 f6 26.Bf4 Qe7 27.g5 fxg5 28.Bxg5 Qf7 gives Black the benefit of well developed heavy pieces in an open field (Valerga-Peralta, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 2009).
• 17.Rfe1 Ba4 18.Qc1 Bc6 19.Ra2 Re6 20.Nf1 Rae8 gives Black a small advantage in space (Kasparov-Tatai, Ol, Dubai, 1986).
• If 14.h4 then:
• If 14...Nb6 15.f3 then:
• 15...Bxc3 16.bxc3 Qa4 17.Qb2 Bf5 18.Rf2 Re6 19.Nf1 Rae8 gives Black the advantage in space and pressure in the center (Salem-Tejas, Op, Dubai, 2010).
• 15...Bf8 16.e4 Bg7 17.Be3 Be6 18.a4 Bd7 is equal (Cheparinov-Mamedyarov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• 14...f6 15.Bf4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nb6 17.f3 Qa4 is equal (Malakhatko-Aleksandrov, Op, Kolkata, 2009).
• If 13.Bh3 then:
• 13...Kg7 14.Rae1 Ne4 15.Ndxe4 dxe4 16.Bf4 f5 17.f3 is equal (Grischuk-Morozevich, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• If 13...Bxc3 then:
• If 14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rfb1 Nb6 18.Bxc8 Raxc8 19.a4 Nd5 20.Rxb7 Nxc3 then:
• 21.Rxa7 Nd5 22.Rc1 c3 23.Kf1 Nb4 24.Rb7 Rc4 is equal (Dreev-González, Op, Santa Barbara de Casa, 1992).
• If 21.a5 a6 22.Kf1 Nd5 23.Ke1 c3 24.Kd1 c2+ 25.Kd2 Rc3 26.Rc1 Rec8 is equal (Seirawan-Sosonko, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1986).
• If 14.bxc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxd7 Bxd7 17.Bf4 then:
• 17...Bc6 18.Rfb1 Qd5 19.Qb2 Re6 20.Qb4 g5 21.Bc7 Rc8 22.Qa5 Qxa5 draw (Kelly-Sosonko, Zonal, Linares, 1995).
• 17...Re6 18.Rab1 Qd5 19.Rb4 Ra6 20.Rfb1 Bc6 21.Qe2 b5 22.R4b2 f6 23.h4 draw (Chekhov-Dizdar, Halle, 1987).

6...Nc6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 Be6 11.0-0 a6 12.Rfc1

• If 12.Rac1 Bd6 then:
• 13.Ne1 Ne7 14.Nd3 then:
• 14...Nf5 15.g3 c6 16.Qb3 Rab8 17.Na4 Rfe8 18.Nb6 gives White the advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-Matveeva, OlW, Moscow, 1994).
• If 14...Rad8 15.b4 c6 16.Nc5 Bc8 17.Bd3 Nf5 18.Ne2 Rfe8 is equal (Christiansen-Witt, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1977).
• If 13.Qd1 Ne7 then:
• 14.Ne1 Rad8 15.Na4 Nf5 16.g3 Rfe8 is equal (C. Hansen-S. B. Hansen, IT, Malmø, 2005).
• If 14.Na4 b6 15.b4 Bd7 16.Qb3 a5 17.b5 g5 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qxe5 is equal (G. Flear-Vallin, French ChT, Montpellier, 2001).

12...Bd6 13.Qd1 Rad8!?

• 13...Ne7 14.Na4 b6 15.Nc3 Rfd8 16.Qf1 c6 17.Na4 Rdb8 18.Rc3 a5 is equal (Taimanov-Kotov, 1953).

14.Rab1

• Black has a slight edge in space.

14...g5 15.a3 Qg7 16.b4 Ne7 17.Na4

• If 17.Rb3 g4 18.Nd2 Qg6 19.b5 a5 20.Na4 then:
• 20...b6 21.Nb2 Qh5 22.Nf1 Rfe8 23.Rbc3 f5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 20...f5 21.Nc5 Bc8 22.Nd3 Rde8 23.Rbc3 Qf6 gives Black more space.

17...f5!?

• The objectively best move is 17...Bf5, but Black is looking for a long-term advantage on the kingside and takes a calculated risk.
• 18.Rb3 g4 19.Nd2 Qg6 20.Nc5 Rb8 21.Rbc3 Qg5 Black still has the advantage in space.

18.Nc5!

• White takes a taste of initiative and bids for the advantage in space.

18...Bc8

• 18...Bxc5?! 19.bxc5 Rb8 20.Ne5! Ng6 21.Nxg6 Qxg6gives White the advantage in space.

19.Nd2

• The game is now equal.
• 19.Nd3 f4 20.exf4 gxf4 21.Nc5 Kh8 22.Bf1 Rg8 is also equal.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
""""""""#
$ +vT Tl+%
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$ P P + +%
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$ + NbPpP%
$+rRq+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 19.Nf3d2

19...f4!

• Black attacks White's pawn chain and gives White something to think about.

20.Bg4 Nf5 21.Nf1!?

• White must play aggressively. This move, clearly a reaction to Black's 19th move, allows Black to push back.
• 21.Bxf5 then:
• 21...Bxf5 22.Nxb7 fxe3 23.fxe3 Rb8 24.Nxd6 Bxb1 remains equal.
• 21...Rxf5 22.Qb3 fxe3 23.fxe3 c6 24.Rf1 Rdf8 remains equal.

21...b6!

• Black pushes back.

22.Na4

• If 22.Nb3 then:
• If 22...Rde8 23.Bf3 Bb7 24.Rc3 fxe3 25.Nxe3 then:
• 25...Nxe3 26.Rxe3 Rxe3 27.fxe3 Re8 gives Black the more active game.
• 25...c6 26.Nxf5 Rxf5 27.Rb2 Qf7 28.Re2 remains equal.
• 22...fxe3 23.Nxe3 Nxe3 24.fxe3 Bxg4 25.Qxg4 Rde8 remains equal.

22...Rde8 23.Rc3

• If 23.Bxf5 Bxf5 24.Rb2 Qf6 then:
• 25.Qb3 fxe3 26.Nxe3 Be6 27.Qd3 Kg7 remains equal.
• 25.Nc3 c6 26.Qa4 fxe3 27.Nxe3 Bd3 gives Black the advantage in space.

23...Kh8 24.Rbc1?

• White's kingside is a bit cramped and she should do something about it.
• 24.Bxf5 Bxf5 25.Rbc1 Qf6 26.Nb2 Be4 27.f3 Bg6 at least leaves White fighting for a draw.

24...Bd7!

• Black has the advantage in space and attacks the hanging Knight which has no good flight squares.
• 24...fxe3 25.fxe3 Qf6 26.Qf3 Be6 27.Bh5 Re7 is equal.

25.Be2

• If 25.Bxf5 Bxf5 26.Rc6 Qf6 then:
• If 27.Nb2 Bg6 28.Qd2 fxe3 29.Nxe3 Qf4 then Black wins in all variations:
• 30.Rxd6 Qxd6 31.Nd3 Bxd3 32.Qxd3 Re4 leaves Black up by the exchange.
• 30.g3 Qf3 31.Nbd1 Be4 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Ke2 Qxh2 Black spreads havoc and fear in Black's position.
• 30.Nf1 Qxd2 31.Nxd2 Re2 wins a piece.
• 27.exf4 Bd7 28.R6c3 Bxf4 29.Rb1 Re4 30.Nb2 Rxd4! gives White an extra pawn and two Bishops against two Knights in an open field.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
$""""""""#
$ + +tT L%
$+ Ov+ W %
$oO V + P%
$+ +o+mP %
$nP P P +%
$P R P + %
$ + +vPpP%
$+ Rq+nK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 25.Bg4e2

25...fxe3!

• The threat is executed.

26.fxe3 Qf6

• Also good is 26...Nxd4 27.Bxa6 Be5 28.Rxc7 Bxa4 29.Rxg7 Bxd1 30.Rxd1 Bxg7 when Black wins a piece.

27.Nb2

• If 27.Bxa6 b5 then:
• If 28.Nb2 Nxe3 29.Nxe3 Rxe3 30.Rxe3 Qf2+ 31.Kh1 Qxe3 wins for Black.
• 28.Nc5 Bxc5 29.Rxc5 Qxa6 30.Rxc7 Qe6 31.R1c3 Rf7 gives Black a winning position.

27...Nxe3 28.Nxe3 Qf2+ 29.Kh1 Rxe3 30.Rxe3 Qxe3 31.Qc2

• If 31.Bf3 then after 31...Qxa3 32.Nd3 Ba4 33.Qd2 Rf4 34.Qe3 Bb5 Black wins easily.

31...Rf2 32.Nd1 Qf4 0-1

• Mate cannot be averted.
• Ms. Danielian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Cramling - Kovanova, Round 7

Pia Cramling
Photo: ChessBase.com


Pia Cramling - Baira Kovanova
Women's Grand Prix, Third Leg, Round 7
Nalchik, 3 May 2010

English Game: Nimzo-English Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3

• 5.d4 transposes into the Capablanca Opening of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.

5...Bxc3 6.Qxc3 b6 7.g3

• If 7.d4 Bb7 8.e3 d6 then:
• If 9.Be2 Nbd7 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.b4 Rf6 13.d5 then:
• If 13...exd5 14.Bb2 Rg6 15.Rad1 dxc4 16.Bxc4+ Kh8 17.Bd5 c6 18.Bxc6 Rc8 19.b5 gives White the advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Kristjansson, IT, Selfoss, 2002).
• If 13...Rg6 14.Nd4 Qg5 15.g3 then:
• If 15...Ne5 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.dxe6 Qg6 then:
• 18.Rd1 Ng5 19.Rd5 Ngf3+ 20.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 21.Kf1 Nxh2+ 22.Ke2 Qg4+ 23.Kd2 Nf3+ is equal (Bocharov-Lysyj, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 18.Qb3 Ng5 19.e4 f4 20.f3 Nxe6 21.Kg2 Kh8 22.Bb2 fxg3 23.hxg3 Nf4+ 24.Kf2 Nh3+ 25.Kg2 Nf4+ 26.Kf2 draw (Drozdovskij-Grischuk, Rpd, Odessa, 2007).
• 15...exd5 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4+ Kh8 19.Qc6 gives White the advantage in space (Kramnik-J. Polgar, IT, Sofia, 2005).
• If 10...c5 11.b4 then:
• If 11...Qe7 12.Bb2 Rfc8 13.dxc5 dxc5 then:
• 14.Rfd1 Ne8 15.b5 f6 16.a4 a5 17.bxa6 Rxa6 18.a5 Rca8 is equal (Kramnik-Karpov, IT, Prague, 2002).
• 14.b5 Ne8 15.a4 a5 16.Rad1 f6 17.Rd2 Nf8 18.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space (Matveea-Bojkovic, FIDE Knock Out W, Elista, 2004).
• 11...Rc8 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Rfd1 Rfe8 15.Rac1 a5 16.Nd2 Nxd2 17.Rxd2 axb4 18.axb4 gives White the advantage in space (Jakovenko-Tiviakov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• If 9.b4 Nbd7 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.Bd3 then:
• 12...a5 13.0-0 Ng5 14.Nxg5 Qxg5 15.f4 Qg6 16.d5 Nf6 is equal (Farago-Nicholson, Op, Esbjerg, 1981).
• 12...Ndf6 13.0-0 Ng4 14.h3 Ngf6 15.Nd2 Ng5 16.f3 Qe8 17.h4 Nf7 is equal (Ker-Chandler, IT, Wellington, 1988).
• 12...Qe7 13.0-0 c5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.b5 e5 16.Ne1 Qf7 is equal (Kozul-Adams, IT, Biel, 1991).
• If 10...a5 11.Be2 Ne4 then:
• If 12.Qb3 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1+ 14.Bxa1 then:
• 14...Ng5 15.d5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 e5 17.e4 Qg5 18.0-0 Ra8 is equal (Topalov-Adams, IT, Frankfurt, 1999).
• 14...Ndf6 15.0-0 Qd7 16.b5 Ra8 17.Bb2 Qd8 18.Bd3 d5 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Qc2 Ra5 21.Rc1 gives White the initiative (Berclaz-Plomp, Corres, 2002).
• 12.Qc2 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1+ 14.Bxa1 Ng5 15.Qd1 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 is equal (Meenakshi-Mahesh Chandran, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

7...Bb7 8.Bg2 d6

• If 8...d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Qc2 c5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.b3 then:
• 12...e5 13.e3 Re8 14.d3 Rc8 15.Bb2 f6 16.Rfd1 Kh8 17.Rac1 Qd7 18.Nd2 Nde7 is equal (Pridorozhini-M. Turov, Russian Ch, Krasnodar, 2002).
• 12...Rc8 13.Bb2 Nf6 14.Qc3 Qd5 15.Qe3 Rfd8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qh6 Qf5 18.Rac1 is equal (Laxman-Yu Shaoteng, Asian Ch, Hyderabad, 2005).

9.0-0 Nbd7 10.b4 c5 11.Bb2 Qe7

• 11...Rc8 12.d3 d5 13.e3 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc4 15.dxc4 Bd5 16.Rxa7 Rxc4 17.Qa3 Qb8 18.b5 Rc5 is equal (Prudnikova-Chiburdanidze, ITW, Belgrade, 1998).

12.d3 Rfc8

• 12...Rac8 13.e4 d5 14.exd5 exd5 15.Rfe1 Qd8 16.b5 d4 is equal (Agrest-Ong, Swedish Ch, Goteborg, 2005).

13.Qd2!?

• If 13.b5 d5 then:
• 14.e3 a5 15.Nh4 Qf8 16.f4 Rd8 17.Rae1 Rab8 18.e4 dxe4 19.dxe4 gives White the advantage in space (Galliamova-Tiviakov, IT, Elista, 1998).
• 14.e4 dxc4 15.Qxc4 a6 16.a4 Qf8 is equal (Sharavdorj-Antonio, Zonal, Yangon, 1998).
• 14.a4 a6 15.e4 Qf8 16.Rfe1 axb5 17.axb5 Rxa1 18.Bxa1 Ra8 is equal (van Wely-Kramnik, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).

13...Rc7!?

• There is no future for the Rook here. If Black tries to open the queenside, White is the moe likely beneficiary.
• Better is 13...d5 14.Rfc1 a6 15.Rab1 dxc4 16.Rxc4 with equality.

14.e4

• White enjoys an early advantage in space.
• If 14.Rfc1 then:
• If 14...e5 15.b5 d5 16.Qg5 e4 17.dxe4 dxe4 18.Qf4! gives White the advantage in space.
• If 14...Rac8 then 15.b5 a6 16.a4 locks the queenside and leaves White the the advantage in space.

14...d5

• 14...a6 15.a4 e5 16.Nh4 Qe6 17.b5 White still has the advantage in space.

15.exd5

• 15.Qf4 Rcc8 16.exd5 exd5 17.Rfe1 gives White a slight initiative.

15...exd5 16.Qf4 Qd8 17.Nh4!?

• White opens the long diagonal for the fianchettoed Bishop, but doesn't really have a good place for the Knight.
• 17.Rfe1 dxc4 18.dxc4 cxb4 19.axb4 Rac8 20.Bf1 maintains White's advantage in space.

17...d4

• Black herself locks the queenside as if to demonstrate the faltiness of her 13th move.
• If 17...dxc4 18.dxc4 Bxg2 then:
• 19.Nxg2 cxb4 20.axb4 Rac8 21.Ne3 Black's Rooks on the c-file are made impotent by White's well-fortified c-pawn.
• 19.Kxg2 cxb4 20.axb4 Rac8 21.Rfc1 gives White a very impressive advantae in space.

18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Nf5

• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space. Black's Rooks are out of play behind immoble pawns.

19...Nf8 20.Rfe1 Ne6 21.Qf3 Rd7 22.Bc1!?

• White seeks a better post for her Bishop, but the effect is to take her foot off the gas.
• 22.Re2 a5 23.b5 g6 24.Nh4 Ng5 25.Qg2 White continues to enjoy a more active game.

22...Rc8

• The game is equal.

23.Bd2 Ne8 24.a4 Nd6 25.b5 Qc7!?

• If 25...Nxf5 26.Qxf5 a6 27.bxa6 Ra8 then:
• 28.a5 Rxa6 29.axb6 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Qxb6 remains equal.
• 28.f4!? Rxa6! 29.Qg4 Nf8 30.f5 Re7 31.Rxe7 Qxe7 gives Black more freedom.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova
""""""""#
$ +t+ +l+%
$O Qt+oOo%
$ O Mm+ +%
$+pO +n+ %
$p+pO + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 25...Qd8c7

26.a5!

• White's plan is to draw Black's back rank Rook to the center, open the queenside and invade on the a-file.
• 26.Bf4 Qb7 27.Qxb7 Nxb7 28.Be5 Re8 29.Re2 h5 remains equal.

26...Nxf5 27.Qxf5 Re8

• The Rook moves to e8 to cover the Knight so as not to be saddled with a backward pawn or victim of an exchange sacrifice.
• If 27...Ra8? then after 28.Rxe6!! fxe6 29.Qxe6+ Rf7 30.axb6 White has a fierce attack.

28.axb6!

• White opens the a-file.

28...axb6 29.Ra6 Rde7 30.Rea1

• White has accomplished her plan described in the note to her 26th move. She now has an advantage in space and a more active game.

30...h6 31.h4

• White continues to enjoy a small edge after 31.Qd5 Qb7 32.f4 Qxd5 33.cxd5 Nc7 34.Rxb6 Nxd5.

31...Nf8 32.Qd5 Re2?

• The Rook must remain at e7 in order to exchange the Queen for two Rook in the event of Ra6a7. Now White wins in short order.
• 32...Ng6 33.h5 Ne5 34.Bf4 Qc8 35.Ra8 Qf5 gives White a small advantage.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova
""""""""#
$ + +tMl+%
$+ W +oO %
$rO + + O%
$+pOq+ + %
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$+ +p+ P %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 32...Re7e2

33.Ra7!

• The hammer strikes the anvil.

33...Qe5 34.Qxf7+ Kh7

• If 34...Kh8 35.Bf4 then:
• 35...Qf636.Qxf6 gxf6 37.Bxh6 leaves Black two pawns to the good.
• If 35...Re1+ then after 36.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 37.Kg2 Black must lose material or submit to mate.

35.Bf4 Re1+ 36.Kg2 1-0

• Black must lose her Queen.
• Ms. Kovanova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Yildiz - Zhu Chen, Round 7

Pia Cramling
Photo: ChessBase.com


Pia Cramling - Baira Kovanova
Women's Grand Prix, Third Leg, Round 7
Nalchik, 3 May 2010

English Game: Nimzo-English Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3

• 5.d4 transposes into the Capablanca Opening of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.

5...Bxc3 6.Qxc3 b6 7.g3

• If 7.d4 Bb7 8.e3 d6 then:
• If 9.Be2 Nbd7 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.b4 Rf6 13.d5 then:
• If 13...exd5 14.Bb2 Rg6 15.Rad1 dxc4 16.Bxc4+ Kh8 17.Bd5 c6 18.Bxc6 Rc8 19.b5 gives White the advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Kristjansson, IT, Selfoss, 2002).
• If 13...Rg6 14.Nd4 Qg5 15.g3 then:
• If 15...Ne5 16.Nxe6 Rxe6 17.dxe6 Qg6 then:
• 18.Rd1 Ng5 19.Rd5 Ngf3+ 20.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 21.Kf1 Nxh2+ 22.Ke2 Qg4+ 23.Kd2 Nf3+ is equal (Bocharov-Lysyj, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 18.Qb3 Ng5 19.e4 f4 20.f3 Nxe6 21.Kg2 Kh8 22.Bb2 fxg3 23.hxg3 Nf4+ 24.Kf2 Nh3+ 25.Kg2 Nf4+ 26.Kf2 draw (Drozdovskij-Grischuk, Rpd, Odessa, 2007).
• 15...exd5 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4+ Kh8 19.Qc6 gives White the advantage in space (Kramnik-J. Polgar, IT, Sofia, 2005).
• If 10...c5 11.b4 then:
• If 11...Qe7 12.Bb2 Rfc8 13.dxc5 dxc5 then:
• 14.Rfd1 Ne8 15.b5 f6 16.a4 a5 17.bxa6 Rxa6 18.a5 Rca8 is equal (Kramnik-Karpov, IT, Prague, 2002).
• 14.b5 Ne8 15.a4 a5 16.Rad1 f6 17.Rd2 Nf8 18.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space (Matveea-Bojkovic, FIDE Knock Out W, Elista, 2004).
• 11...Rc8 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Rfd1 Rfe8 15.Rac1 a5 16.Nd2 Nxd2 17.Rxd2 axb4 18.axb4 gives White the advantage in space (Jakovenko-Tiviakov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• If 9.b4 Nbd7 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.Bd3 then:
• 12...a5 13.0-0 Ng5 14.Nxg5 Qxg5 15.f4 Qg6 16.d5 Nf6 is equal (Farago-Nicholson, Op, Esbjerg, 1981).
• 12...Ndf6 13.0-0 Ng4 14.h3 Ngf6 15.Nd2 Ng5 16.f3 Qe8 17.h4 Nf7 is equal (Ker-Chandler, IT, Wellington, 1988).
• 12...Qe7 13.0-0 c5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.b5 e5 16.Ne1 Qf7 is equal (Kozul-Adams, IT, Biel, 1991).
• If 10...a5 11.Be2 Ne4 then:
• If 12.Qb3 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1+ 14.Bxa1 then:
• 14...Ng5 15.d5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 e5 17.e4 Qg5 18.0-0 Ra8 is equal (Topalov-Adams, IT, Frankfurt, 1999).
• 14...Ndf6 15.0-0 Qd7 16.b5 Ra8 17.Bb2 Qd8 18.Bd3 d5 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Qc2 Ra5 21.Rc1 gives White the initiative (Berclaz-Plomp, Corres, 2002).
• 12.Qc2 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1+ 14.Bxa1 Ng5 15.Qd1 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 is equal (Meenakshi-Mahesh Chandran, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

7...Bb7 8.Bg2 d6

• If 8...d5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Qc2 c5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.b3 then:
• 12...e5 13.e3 Re8 14.d3 Rc8 15.Bb2 f6 16.Rfd1 Kh8 17.Rac1 Qd7 18.Nd2 Nde7 is equal (Pridorozhini-M. Turov, Russian Ch, Krasnodar, 2002).
• 12...Rc8 13.Bb2 Nf6 14.Qc3 Qd5 15.Qe3 Rfd8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qh6 Qf5 18.Rac1 is equal (Laxman-Yu Shaoteng, Asian Ch, Hyderabad, 2005).

9.0-0 Nbd7 10.b4 c5 11.Bb2 Qe7

• 11...Rc8 12.d3 d5 13.e3 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc4 15.dxc4 Bd5 16.Rxa7 Rxc4 17.Qa3 Qb8 18.b5 Rc5 is equal (Prudnikova-Chiburdanidze, ITW, Belgrade, 1998).

12.d3 Rfc8

• 12...Rac8 13.e4 d5 14.exd5 exd5 15.Rfe1 Qd8 16.b5 d4 is equal (Agrest-Ong, Swedish Ch, Goteborg, 2005).

13.Qd2!?

• If 13.b5 d5 then:
• 14.e3 a5 15.Nh4 Qf8 16.f4 Rd8 17.Rae1 Rab8 18.e4 dxe4 19.dxe4 gives White the advantage in space (Galliamova-Tiviakov, IT, Elista, 1998).
• 14.e4 dxc4 15.Qxc4 a6 16.a4 Qf8 is equal (Sharavdorj-Antonio, Zonal, Yangon, 1998).
• 14.a4 a6 15.e4 Qf8 16.Rfe1 axb5 17.axb5 Rxa1 18.Bxa1 Ra8 is equal (van Wely-Kramnik, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).

13...Rc7!?

• There is no future for the Rook here. If Black tries to open the queenside, White is the moe likely beneficiary.
• Better is 13...d5 14.Rfc1 a6 15.Rab1 dxc4 16.Rxc4 with equality.

14.e4

• White enjoys an early advantage in space.
• If 14.Rfc1 then:
• If 14...e5 15.b5 d5 16.Qg5 e4 17.dxe4 dxe4 18.Qf4! gives White the advantage in space.
• If 14...Rac8 then 15.b5 a6 16.a4 locks the queenside and leaves White the the advantage in space.

14...d5

• 14...a6 15.a4 e5 16.Nh4 Qe6 17.b5 White still has the advantage in space.

15.exd5

• 15.Qf4 Rcc8 16.exd5 exd5 17.Rfe1 gives White a slight initiative.

15...exd5 16.Qf4 Qd8 17.Nh4!?

• White opens the long diagonal for the fianchettoed Bishop, but doesn't really have a good place for the Knight.
• 17.Rfe1 dxc4 18.dxc4 cxb4 19.axb4 Rac8 20.Bf1 maintains White's advantage in space.

17...d4

• Black herself locks the queenside as if to demonstrate the faltiness of her 13th move.
• If 17...dxc4 18.dxc4 Bxg2 then:
• 19.Nxg2 cxb4 20.axb4 Rac8 21.Ne3 Black's Rooks on the c-file are made impotent by White's well-fortified c-pawn.
• 19.Kxg2 cxb4 20.axb4 Rac8 21.Rfc1 gives White a very impressive advantae in space.

18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Nf5

• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space. Black's Rooks are out of play behind immoble pawns.

19...Nf8 20.Rfe1 Ne6 21.Qf3 Rd7 22.Bc1!?

• White seeks a better post for her Bishop, but the effect is to take her foot off the gas.
• 22.Re2 a5 23.b5 g6 24.Nh4 Ng5 25.Qg2 White continues to enjoy a more active game.

22...Rc8

• The game is equal.

23.Bd2 Ne8 24.a4 Nd6 25.b5 Qc7!?

• If 25...Nxf5 26.Qxf5 a6 27.bxa6 Ra8 then:
• 28.a5 Rxa6 29.axb6 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Qxb6 remains equal.
• 28.f4!? Rxa6! 29.Qg4 Nf8 30.f5 Re7 31.Rxe7 Qxe7 gives Black more freedom.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova
""""""""#
$ +t+ +l+%
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$ O Mm+ +%
$+pO +n+ %
$p+pO + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 25...Qd8c7

26.a5!

• White's plan is to draw Black's back rank Rook to the center, open the queenside and invade on the a-file.
• 26.Bf4 Qb7 27.Qxb7 Nxb7 28.Be5 Re8 29.Re2 h5 remains equal.

26...Nxf5 27.Qxf5 Re8

• The Rook moves to e8 to cover the Knight so as not to be saddled with a backward pawn or victim of an exchange sacrifice.
• If 27...Ra8? then after 28.Rxe6!! fxe6 29.Qxe6+ Rf7 30.axb6 White has a fierce attack.

28.axb6!

• White opens the a-file.

28...axb6 29.Ra6 Rde7 30.Rea1

• White has accomplished her plan described in the note to her 26th move. She now has an advantage in space and a more active game.

30...h6 31.h4

• White continues to enjoy a small edge after 31.Qd5 Qb7 32.f4 Qxd5 33.cxd5 Nc7 34.Rxb6 Nxd5.

31...Nf8 32.Qd5 Re2?

• The Rook must remain at e7 in order to exchange the Queen for two Rook in the event of Ra6a7. Now White wins in short order.
• 32...Ng6 33.h5 Ne5 34.Bf4 Qc8 35.Ra8 Qf5 gives White a small advantage.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova
""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 32...Re7e2

33.Ra7!

• The hammer strikes the anvil.

33...Qe5 34.Qxf7+ Kh7

• If 34...Kh8 35.Bf4 then:
• 35...Qf636.Qxf6 gxf6 37.Bxh6 leaves Black two pawns to the good.
• If 35...Re1+ then after 36.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 37.Kg2 Black must lose material or submit to mate.

35.Bf4 Re1+ 36.Kg2 1-0

• Black must lose her Queen.
• Ms. Kovanova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Ooops, here's the Yildiz-Zhu Chen game

Zhu Chen
Photo by rorkhete, Wikipedia (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike)


Betul Yildiz - Zhu Chen
Women's Grand Prix, Third Leg, Round 7
Nalchik, 3 May 2010

Epine Dorsal: Rat Defense (Lion Variation) (Philidor Defense)

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3

• The traditional move order is 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3.
• This defense, while solid, has never been popular due to Black's difficulty in developing the King's Bishop.

4...Nbd7

• 4...g6? fails to 5.dxe5! dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8 7.Bg5 Be7 8.0-0-0+

5.Bc4 Be7

• This is the starting point of the Lion Variation. French GM Christian Bauer (The Philidor Files) calls this set up the Antoshin Variation, crediting Soviet GM Vladimir Antoshin for its popularazation in the 1950s. Says Bauer: "Instead of putting the Bishop where it would be most actice, on the long diagonal, Black chooses a more solid, less ambitious set up. In return for this he increases his chances of achieving the ...d5 advance (after ...Be7, the Queen is protected twice, so tactics down the d-file are more favorable than in the 4...g6 line)."
• The move 4...g6 is unplayable using the "Moorish" move order (see note to Black's fourth move), so we will cross that bridge when we get to it.

6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 c6 8.a4 a5

• If 8...b6 9.d5 cxd5 then:
• If 10.Nxd5 Bb7 11.b3 Rc8 12.Re2 then:
• If 12...Nc5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Qd7 15.Ba3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 then:
• If 16...Rfd8 17.Rd1 Ne6 18.Qb5 Nf4 19.Red2 Qg4 20.Qf1 d5 then:
• 21.Kh1 d4 22.Ne1 Bg5 23.g3 Ng6 24.f3 Qe6 gives Black more space and initiative (Naiditsch-Eljanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• 21.exd5 e4 22.Ne1 Bc3 23.d6 Bxd2 24.Rxd2 Rc3 gives Black both a spetial and material advantage (Kravtsiv-Ruck, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• 16...Ne6 17.Qb5 Qb7 18.Rae1 a6 19.Qb4 Rfd8 20.c4 Rd7 21.Rd1 Be7 22.Qe1 leaves Black struggling to get the ...d5 break (Karjakin-Felgaer, YM, Cuernavaca, 2006).
• If 12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 then:
• If 13...Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Nf6 15.Qd1 d5 16.exd5 then:
• 16...Qxd5 17.Qxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxe5 Rfe8 19.c4 Bd6 20.Bb2 gives White the initiative (Kasparov-Azmaiparashvili, Rpd Match, Crete, 2003).
• 16...e4 17.Ng5 Nxd5 18.Nxe4 Bb4 19.Bd2 clearly benefits White (Kinderman-n-Schmaltz, German Ch, Gladenbach, 1997).
• 13...Ba6 14.c4 Nf6 15.Ba3 Qd7 16.Ne1 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Bb7 18.Qd3 f5 is equal (Hebden-Matwani, Scottish Ch, Edinburgh, 2009).
• If 10.Bxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Bb7 12.c4 then:
• 12...Rc8 13.b3 Nc5 14.b4 Ne6 15.Qe2 Ba6 16.b5 Bb7 17.a5 Bxd5 18.cxd5 Nc5 19.axb6 axb6 20.Ba3 Qd7 draw (van de Oudeweetering-C. Philippe, Op, Paris, 2001).
• 12...f5 13.exf5 Rxf5 14.Nd4 Rf7 15.Ne6 Qc8 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Qxd6 Qc6 18.Qxc6 Bxc6 19.Nd4 gives White an extra pawn (De Vreugt-Ellenbrook, Dutch ChT, Breda, 2001).

9.h3 Nb6

• If 9...exd4 then:
• If 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Qb6 12.b3 Re8 then:
• 13.Qf3 Ncd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 is equal (Hracek-Piket, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• If 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxe5 Ncd7 then:
• 15.Nf5!? Nxe5! 16.Rxe5 Bb4 leaves Black with the initiative (Ahmed-Magem Bedals, Op, Dhaka, 2003).
• 15.Bf4 Nf8 16.Qd2 Bd7 17.Rad1 Rad8 is equal.
• If 11...Be6 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.e5 Nd5 14.Bxd5 Rxf4? 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Bxe6+ Kh8 17.Qe2 Qb6 18.Rad1 Bc7 19.Bc4 Qxb2 20.Rd4 then:
• 20...h6?? 21.Rxf4! Bxf4 22.Qh5! Black resigns as he must lose material (Motylev-Yemelin, Euro Ch, Budva, 2003).
• 20...Rf5 21.Qd2 Raf8 22.Nd1 Qb6 is equal.
• If 10.Qxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 Be6 12.Rad1 Qb6 then:
• If 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Bxd6 Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Rad8 then:
• 16.Qe5 Nfd7 17.Qd4 Qxb2 18.Qe3 Qa3 19.Rb1 Rb8 20.Red1 e5 21.Nh4 is equal (Nedev-Tratar, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 16.Qe7 Rde8 17.Qd6 Rd8 18.Qe7 Rde8 draw (Sermek-Mitkov, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 13.b3 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Qb4 15.Nd2 Rfe8 16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxe5 Nfd7 18.Bg3 Nb6 19.Qxb4 axb4 20.Nce4 Ne6 is equal (Luther-Mitkov, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

10.Bf1

• If 10.Ba2 Nfd7 11.Be3 exd4 then:
• If 12.Bxd4 Nc5 then:
• If 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.Qe2 Qd6 15.Rad1 Qh6 then:
• If 16.Nd2 Be6 17.Bxe6 Qxe6 18.f4 then:
• 18...f5!? 19.exf5 Qxe2 20.Rxe2 Bf6 21.Nde4 Bd4+ 22.Kh2 Rxf5 23.g3 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses (Bacrot-Pelletier, IT, Biel, 2008).
• 18...Qf6 19.Qf3 Rad8 20.e5 Qh4 is equal.
• 16.Qd2 Qxd2 17.Nxd2 Rd8 18.Nc4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 is equal (Parligras-Bologan, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 13.Bb3 Nxb3 14.cxb3 Nd7 15.Nd2 Nc5 16.Nc4 Be6 17.Qc2 Bxc4 18.bxc4 gives White the advantage in space (Perunovic-Goutali, Ol. Dresden, 2008).
• 12.Qxd4 Nc5 13.Rad1 Be6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.e5 d5 16.Qg4 Qe8 is equal (Ganguly-Berkes, IT, Paks, 2009).

10...exd4

• If 10...Nfd7 then:
• 11.Be3 Re8 12.b3 h6 13.Qd2 exd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.Rad1 Bf8 16.Nxc6 gives White a splendid position (Nemcova-Millet, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 11.b3 exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.Bf4 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bg3 d5 16.Nxf5 Rxf5 remains equal (Baba-al Sayed, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

11.Qxd4

• 11.Nxd4 d5 12.e5 Ne8 13.Nce2 g6 14.Bh6 Ng7 15.Ng3 Bg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.Nf3 gives White the advantage in space (Effimenko-Bologan. IT, Poikovsky, 2009).

11...d5

• White has an advantage in space that cannot be maintained. For all intents and purposes, the game is equal.

12.Bf4 Bb4 13.e5 Nfd7 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Bxe7

• White trades her bad Bishop for Black's good one.
• 15.Bf4 Re8 16.Be2 f6 17.exf6 Bxf6 remains equal.

15...Qxe7 16.Qe3

• 16.Rad1 Re8 17.Qe3 f6 remains equal.

16...Re8 17.b3!?

• 17.Rad1 f6 18.exf6 Qxe3 19.Rxe3 Rxe3 20.fxe3 Nxf6 21.Bd3 is equal.

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$t+v+t+l+%
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$ Mo+ + +%
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WHITE: Betil Yildiz
Position after 17.b2b3

17...Qc5!

• Black gets relief from claustrophobia by exchanging Queens. Thus White's advantage in space, which was an illusion to begin with, has vanished.
• 17...Nc5!? 18.Nd4! Be6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Rad1 gives White more real advantage in space.

18.Qxc5!?

• White needn't be so anxious to accommodate.
• Better is 18.Rad1 Qxe3 19.Rxe3 f6 20.exf6 Rxe3 21.fxe3 Nxf6 is approximately equal. Black has stronger pawns, but White is better developed.

18...Nxc5

• The consequence of White inaccurate play is that Black gets the Knight to c5.

19.Nd4 Bd7

• 19...Be6 20.Rad1 Re7 21.f4 Rae8 remains equal.

20.Rad1 Re7 21.f4 Rae8 22.Kf2 g6

• The text move is to keep White out of f5.
• 22...f6 23.exf6 gxf6 24.g4 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Rxe1 26.Kxe1 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses and a tinsy bit more space.

23.g3

• White shores up his control of dark squares, on which Black has a pronouced weakness.

23...Na8 24.Bg2 Nc7 25.Nf3 h5 26.Nh2!?

• 26.Ng5 gets White nothing after 26...Bf5 27.Rd2 f6 28.exf6 Rxe1 29.f7+ Kf8 30.fxe8Q+ Rxe8 when the game remians equal. Fritz gets a chocolate micro chip for coming up with that acrobatic display.
• 26.Nd4 b6 27.Rb1 N5a6 28.Re2 Nb4 remains equal.

26...N7a6!?

• This appears to be a calculated risk. Black will play on the queenside, bringing the Knight to b4.
• 26...Bf5 27.Re2 N7e6 28.Nf3 Be4 remains equal.

27.g4?

• White unnecessarily weakens her kingside.
• Better is 27.Re2 Nb4 28.Nf3 Be6 29.Nd4 Kg7 30.Re3 with at least equality.

27...hxg4 28.hxg4

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$ + +t+l+%
$+o+ +o+ %
$m+o+ +o+%
$O MoP + %
$p+ + Pp+%
$+pN + + %
$ +p+ KbN%
$+ +rR + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Betil Yildiz
Position after 28.hg4:p

28...Nb4!

• The Knight finally comes to life.

29.Re2 g5 30.Kg3

• 30.fxg5 Rxe5 31.Rxe5 Rxe5 32.Nf3 Re8 33.Rd2 Bxg4 gives Black an extra pawn.

30...gxf4+ 31.Kxf4 f6 32.Nf3 fxe5+

• Black is content to play with an extra pawn for now.
• 32...d4! 33.e6 Nxe6+ 34.Rxe6 Rxe6 35.Nxd4 Re3 leaves Black up by an exchange.

33.Nxe5 Bxg4 34.Kxg4 Rxe5 35.Rxe5

• 35.Red2 d4 36.Nb1 Ne4 37.Bxe4 Rxe4+ 38.Kf3 c5 leaves Black with an extra pawn and more active Rooks.

35...Rxe5 36.Kf4

• 36.Rd2 b6 37.Kf4 Re8 38.Ne2 Rf8+ 39.Ke3 Kf7 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

36...Re7 37.Rd2 Re1 38.Ne2 Kf7 39.Ke5

• 39.Ke3 Kf6 40.Kf2 Rb1 41.Nd4 Ke5 42.Nf3+ Kf4 leaves Black with an extra pawn and more active pieces.

39...Ke7 40.Kd4

• No better is 40.Kf4 Ne6+ 41.Ke3 Rb1 42.Nd4 Nxd4 43.Kxd4 Kd6.

40...Kd6 41.Ke3

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+o+ + + %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Betil Yildiz
Position after 41.Kc4e3

41...Kc7!?

• White misses a winning opportunity.
• 41...Ke5 42.c3 Nxb3 43.cxb4 Nxd2 44.Kxd2 Ra1 45.bxa5 Rxa4 gives White a material advantage and, after playing 46...Rxa5, three connected passed pawns.

42.Kf2

• If 42.Bf3 then after 42...b6 43.Kf2 Ra1 44.Nd4 Kd7 45.Re2 Rc1 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn and the more active game.

42...Ra1 43.Ke3 Kb6!?

• Black misses another chance to win faster.
• If 43...b6 44.Nd4 Re1+ 45.Re2 Rxe2+ 46.Kxe2 then:
• 46...Nxc2!! 47.Nxc2 Nxb3 48.Ne3 gives Black three pawns for a piece, including connected passers..
• If 46...Na2? 47.Kd2 Kd6 then:
• 48.c3! Ne6 49.Nxe6 Kxe6 50.Kc2 d4 51.cxd4 Nb4+ is equal.
• 48.Nf5+? Kd7 49.Bh3 Ne4+ 50.Ke3 Ke6 51.c4 Ke5 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

44.Kd4 Re1 45.Ke3!

• This gets White back in the game. Her chances aren't good, but they are chances.
• If 45.Kc3 then:
• If 45...Rb1 then after 46.Ng3 Ne6 47.Nf5 Kc5 48.Rf2 b5 White's c-pawn is in danger.
• If 45...Ne6 46.Kb2 Kc5 47.c3 Nd3+ then:
• 48.Kc2 Ne5 49.Ng3 Rg1 50.Nf5 Nf4 51.Ne3 Ned3 wins the Bishop.
• 48.Ka3 b5 49.axb5 cxb5 50.b4+ axb4+ 51.cxb4+ Nxb4 when Black is up by two pawns.

45...Ne6 46.Bh3 Ng5 47.Bg2 Kc5 48.Kf2

• White has no margin for error.
• The text is better than 48.c3 Na6 49.Kd3 Kd6 when:
• 50.Kc2 Nc5 51.Nd4 Nge4 52.Bxe4 Nxe4 Black has an extra pawn and a slight initiative.
• 50.Nf4? Nc5+ 51.Kc2 Nge4 52.Re2 Rxe2+ 53.Nxe2 the value of Black's extra pawn increases with the exchange of Rooks.

48...Rb1 49.Nd4 Nf7 50.Ne2?

• White slips, and any slip for her now is fatal.
• 50.c3 Na6 51.Re2 Rc1 then:
• 52.Re3! Rxc3 53.Rxc3+ Kxd4 54.Rh3 allows White to keep fighting for a draw.
• 52.b4+? Kc4! 53.Re7 Rxc3 54.Ne2 axb4!! 55.Rxf7 Ra3 gives Black a whole mass of passed pawns and wins.

50...Nd6!

• The Knight returns to action. With all the pawns on one side of the board, White would not have any better prospects if she had two Bishops againt two Knights.

51.Ke3 Re1

• Also good is 51...b5! 52.axb5 Nxb5 53.Bh3 d4+ then:
• If 54.Ke4 Nc3+ then:
• If 55.Kf3 then after 55...Nxe2 56.Rxe2 d3 Black wins.
• If 55.Nxc3 then 55...dxc3 56.Rg2 Rb2 57.Rg5+ Kb6 58.Kd4 Rxc2 wins.
• If 54.Kf3 then 54...d3 55.cxd3 Rxb3 56.Ke3 Nd5+ 57.Kf2 a4 wins.

52.Kf2 Ra1 53.Ke3

• 53.c3 Na6 54.Nf4 Kb6 55.Rb2 Nc5 is just as futile.

BLACK: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+o+ + + %
$ +oM + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Betil Yildiz
Position after 53.Kf2e3

53...Rxa4!!

• Black takes a pawn, proffers the Rooks and outflaniks White.

54.c3

• If 54.Nd4 Ra3 55.Kf4 Nb5 then:
• 56.Ne6+ Kd6 57.Nd8 b6 Black outflanks White.
• 56.Nxb5 Kxb5 57.Re2 Kc5 58.Bf1 Ra2 Black again outflanks White..
• If 54.bxa4 then 54...Nc4+! 55.Kf2 Nxd2 56.Ke1 Nc4 57.c3 Na2 is an easy win for Black.

54...Ra3 55.cxb4+ Kxb4 56.Rc2 Rxb3+ 57.Kd4

• This loses quickly, but White has no sastifactory defense.
• White might loast longer after 57.Kf2 Nc4 58.Nc1 Rb1 59.Bh3 d4 60.Be6 b5, but the result won't change.

57...Nf5+ 58.Ke5 Ne3 0-1

• 59.Bxd5 Nxc2 60.Bxb3 Kxb3 61.Kd6 a4 is an easy win for Black.
• Ms. Yildiz resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. SK Bosna Open Tournament, Sarajevo

Sarajevo
Photo: MARRI-rc.org

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Lejlic - Wang Hao, Round 1

Wang Hao
Photo by Datti4 in Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Samir Lejlic - Wang Hao
40th SK Bosna International Open Tournament, Round 1
Sarajevo, 5 May 2010

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3

• This game was played in the opening round when, in Swiss System tournaments, the highest seeded players play against much lower ranked players. Grandmaster Wang came to Sarajevo as the top seed; his Elo score is 2722. Samir Lejlic is an international master from Sweden; his Elo score is 2362. We don't know very much about him. Perhaps he is an expert in this variation of the Sicilian. Perhaps he just didn't want to face Grandmaster Wang's Najdorf.

3...Nf6 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.Bc2 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3

• If 6...Bh5 7.d3 e6 then:
• If 8.Nbd2 Be7 9.Nf1 d5 10.Qe2 then:
• If 10...c4 11.Ng3 then:
• 11...Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Ne5 13.Qe3 Nxd3+ 14.Bxd3 cxd3 15.Qxd3 dxe4 16.Qb5+ Qd7 17.Qxd7+ Kxd7 is equal (Minashian-Sadler, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
• 11...cxd3 12.Bxd3 Bg6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Rab1 Rad8 16.Bc2 Rfe8 is equal (Bronstein-Kupreichik, GMT, Daugavpils, 1978).
• 10...Qc7 11.Ng3 Bg6 12.0-0 h6 13.Nh2 0-0 14.f4 b5 15.Ng4 b4 16.Bd2 bxc3 17.bxc3 Rfd8 is equal (Fedorov-Kudrin, World Op, Philadelphia, 1992).
• If 8.0-0 Be7 then:
• 9.Re1 0-0 10.Nbd2 Nd7 11.Nf1 Nde5 12.Ng3 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Bh4 14.f4 Nd7 15.Be3 d5 16.exd5 exd5 is equal (Strikovic-Agrest, Op, Bajada de la Virgen, 2005).
• 9.Nbd2 d5 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Re1 0-0 12.g4 Bg6 13.Nh4 Rad8 14.Nxg6 fxg6 15.Nf3 Rde8 16.Bg5 dxe4 17.dxe4 Nd7 is equal (Gonzáles-Bacerra, Capablanca Mem, Cienfuegos, 1996).

7.Qxf3 g6 8.d3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1!?

• If 10.Qe2 b5 then:
• 11.Be3 Nd7 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Nf3 b4 14.cxb4 Nxb4 15.Bb3 Nc6 16.Rfc1 Nde5 is equal (Kholmov-Brodsky, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 1996).
• 11.Nd2 Nd7 12.Nf3 Qb6 13.Bd2 Rab8 14.Rfd1 b4 15.Bb3 Qb5 16.Rac1 Na5 is equal ()Svidler-V. Popov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001.

10...b5

• The game is equal.

11.Qd1 Rc8 12.Nd2 Nd7 13.Nf1

• If 13.Nf3 b4 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 then:
• 15...Qa5 16.Bb3 Rc7 17.Be3 Rfc8 18.Rc1 e6 19.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxc2 18.Bh6 gives White the active game.

13...b4 14.Bd2 Qa5 15.Ne3 Nb6 16.cxb4

• 16.Nd5 e6 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.Bc1 d5 remains equal.

16...cxb4 17.Qb1!?

• White needs to protect the b-pawn without uncovering the attack against his Rook or playing 17.Rab1, which drops a pawn to 17...Qxa2. The tex move makes the Queen less moble.
• Better is 17.Bc1 Rc7 18.a3 Rfc8 when:
• 19.Bb3 e6 20.Nc2 bxa3 21.Nxa3 Nd4 22.Bd2 Qe5 remains equal.
• 19.Qd2 e6 20.Rb1 bxa3 21.Qxa5 Nxa5 22.bxa3 Rxc2 ends with Black having the material advantage of two minor pieces for a Rook.

BLACK: Wang Hao
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Samir Lejlic
Position after 17.Qd1b1

17...Qe5!

• Black finds the only serious try for advantage.
• 17...Qb5 18.Bb3 Nd4 19.Bc4 Qc5 20.Qd1 Nxc4 21.dxc4 remains equal.
• 17...Nd4 18.Bb3 Rc7 19.Nc4 Qb5 20.Qd1 Rfc8 21.Nxb6 Qxb6 remains equal.

18.Bc1 Nd4 19.Bb3 a5

• Black has a clear advantage in space on the queensode.

20.Ng4

• White diverts attention to the queenside.

20...Qh5 21.Bd1 Qb5 22.Bh6

• If 22.Be3 a4 23.Nh2 e5 24.Bxd4 exd4 then:
• 25.Nf3 Rc5 26.Nd2 Rfc8 27.Nc4 Nxc4 28.dxc4 Qxc4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 25.Bg4 Rc5 26.Nf1 Re8 27.f4 h5 28.Bf3 Bh6.

22...Bxh6 23.Nxh6+ Kg7 24.Ng4 Rc7 25.b3?

• White dallies in an attempt to slow down Black's queenside initiative, but Black can just switch to central operations and win there.
• If 25.Ne3 Rfc8 26.Bg4 f5 then:
• 27.Bd1 e5 28.Bb3 Rc1 29.Qxc1 Rxc1 30.Raxc1 Qxd3 Black is clearly better, but White is still able to put up some resistance.
• If 27.exf5 then after 27...gxf5 28.Qd1 Kh8 29.Be2 Nd5 30.Nc4 Nf4 White is still kicking, but Black dominates the center.

If 25.Nh2 Rfc8 26.Nf3 Qc5 then:

• 27.a3 e5 28.Nxd4 Qxd4 29.axb4 axb4 White is still fighting, even if it's an uphill struggle.
• 27.Nxd4? Qxd4 28.Re3 e6 29.Bg4 Rc2! puts Black on the winning track.

BLACK: Wang Hao
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WHITE: Samir Lejlic
Position after 25.b2b3

25...Rc3!

• The attack on d3 and the coming doubling of the Rooks on the c-file put an end to White's effective resistance.

26.Qb2

• The text move doesn't solve any of White's problems, but White's problems can no longer be solved.
• 26.Re3 Nd7 27.a4 Qb6 28.Rg3 Nc5 29.Ra2 Qc6 loses anyway.

26...h5

• This is slightly inaccurate, but not enough so to let White back in the game.
• Black wins quicker after 26...Rfc8 27.Qd2 Rxd3 28.Qh6+ Kg8 29.Qh4 Rc7.

27.Ne3

• 27.Nh2 Rfc8 28.Re3 d5 29.Nf3 Nxf3+ 30.Rxf3 Nd7 still leaves Black dominant on the queenside and in the center.

27...e6!?

• This time Black opens the door wide enough for White to fight back.
• If 27...Rfc8! 28.Nc4 Rxd3 then:
• 29.Be2 Nxc4 30.bxc4 Qe5 31.Rab1 Rc3 32.Bf1 Rc5 leaves Black with an extra pawn, winning.
• 29.Nxb6 Qxb6 30.a3 bxa3 31.Qxa3 Rc5 32.Qb2 Qb4 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

28.Be2!

• The right moves for White, like this one, bolster his center.
• If 28.Nc4?! Rxd3! 29.Qb1 Rc3 then:
• 30.Nxd6 Qe5 31.Nc4 Nxc4 32.bxc4 Rxc4 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 30.Nxb6 Qxb6 31.a3 bxa3 32.Rxa3 Rfc8 leaves Black a pawn up.

28...Qe5 29.Qd2 Rfc8 30.Rab1?

• As with the other case where White lost the game, he tries to bolster his queenside against an attack that isn't forthcoming. Black's designs are in the center.
• Correct is 30.Bd1 d5 31.exd5 Nxd5 32.Nc4 Qc7 33.Re4 Nf5 leaves White fighting.

30...Qc5

• Black restablishes his firm grip on the position.
• Better still is 30...d5! 31.f4 Qf6 32.Rbd1 Rd8 33.f5 dxe4 when Black has an extra pawn.

31.Nc4 Rc2!

• Black is again back in control and winning.

32.Qe3

• If 32.Qd1 d5 33.Nxb6 Qxb6 then:
• If 34.Ra1 Qd8 35.Bf3 Qh4 then:
• 36.g3 Qxh3 37.Bg2 Qg4 38.Qxg4 hxg4 leaves Black with an extra pawn.
• 36.Rf1 Qf4 37.exd5 Nxf3+ 38.Qxf3 Qxf3 39.gxf3 exd5 gives Black better pawn structure and active Rooks.
• 34.exd5 exd5 35.Bf3 Qf6 36.Re3 Rxa2 wins a pawn for Black.

32...Rxa2 33.Bd1

• White at least prevents 33...Nc2, when Black wins the exchange.

33...Nxc4 34.dxc4 h4 35.Qf4 g5 36.Qc1

• The text loses immediately.
• After 36.Qg4 Qe5 37.Re3 Qf6 38.Bf3 a4 39.bxa4 Rxc4 White loses at a normal rate of speed.

36...Nxb3 0-1

• 37.Qe3 Qxe3 38.Rxe3 Nd4 39.e5 dxe5 40.Rxe5 Kf6 leaves Black two pawns to the good and well-protected while White's pieces are exposed and vulnerable exposed.
• Lajlic resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. Update (Tuesday): VISHY WINS WITH BLACK, RETAINS TITLE

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India has just defeated challenger Veselin Topalov of Bulgaia in 56 moves Black in the twelfth and final game of their world championship match in the Bulgarian capital of Sophia and thus retains his title.

Anand, who won the title in a tournament in Mexico City in 2007, has defended his title for the second time. He also defeated former champion Vladimir Kramnik in a match held in Bonn, the Cold War capital of West Germany, in 2008.

The final score of the match is Anand 6½, Topalov 5½. Anand won 3 games, Topalov scored 2 wins and seven game went to the cat. (I have to say that because Poncho, a member of my impressive and loyal staff, is sitting in front of the monitor telling me I better.) Today's win by Anand was the only Black victory of the match.

For Topalov, this is the second loss in a world championship match. He also lost to Kramnik in 2006 in the famous reunification match, when Topalov held the FIDE version of the world championship and Kramnik, by virtue having won a match from the great Garry Kasparov in 2000, held what FIDE condescendingly called the "Classical" world championship.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Andor Lilienthal, World's Oldest GM, Dies at 99

Hungarian grandmaster Andor Lilienthal, who was one of the world's top players in the 1930s, died today in Budapest just three days after his 99th birthday.

At the time of his death he was the world's oldest grandmaster.

In his career, Lilienthal scored victories over six world champions: Dr. Lasker, Capablanca, Dr. Alekhine Dr. Euwe, Botvinnik and Smyslov. His most famous game is his win over Capablanca in the 1934-35 Hastings Christmas Tournament.



Andor Lilienthal as a young man
Photo: ChessHistory.com


Andor Lilienthal - José Capablanca
Christmas Tournament, Round 5
Hastings, January 1935

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 b6

• If 5...d5 6.f3 c5 7.cxd5 then:
• If 7...Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 then:
• If 9...Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 then:
• 12.a4 Nec6 13.f4 Na5 14.Qa3 Nd7 15.Nf3 b6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Nd2 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.0-0 Rfa8 20.Qb4 Nb7 21.Ra2 Qc6 is equal (Khalifman-van der Wiel, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1991).
• 12.Nh3 e5 13.Nf2 Nec6 14.Rb1 Na5 15.Qa4 Be6 16.Be2 Nd7 17.Rb5 b6 18.0-0 Rfb8 19.Rfb1 h6 20.g3 bxc5 21.Rxb8+ Rxb8 22.Rxb8+ Nxb8 23.Qe8+ gives White a clear advantage (Arencibia-Lobron, IZ, Manila, 1990).
• 12.Bb5 Nec6 13.Rd1 e5 14.Qa2 Na5 15.Qd5 Bd7 16.Bxd7 Rd8 17.Qd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nxd7 19.Kf2 Nc4 20.Rd5 Nf6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Ne2 Rc8 23.Rb1 gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space (Timman-Karpov, IT, Linares, 1990).
• 9...Nf6 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Nfd7 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qa3 b6 14.a5 bxc5 15.Nh3 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Nxa6 17.Qa4 Ne5 is equal (Milov-Razuvaev, Op, Biel, 1994).
• If 7...exd5 8.e3 0-0 9.Bd3 b6 10.Ne2 Ba6 then:
• If 11.0-0 Re8 12.Ng3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nc6 then:
• 14.Ra2 Qd7 15.Re2 Rad8 16.Bb2 Re6 17.Rd1 g6 18.e4 dxe4 19.fxe4 h5 20.Ree1 Qe7 21.Qf3?! h4 22.Nf1 Nxe4 gives Black an extra pawn (Borg-Kunte, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If 14.Bb2 Rc8 15.Rae1 then:
• 15...Na5 16.e4 Nc4 17.Bc1 b5 18.Bg5 Qb6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.exd5 cxd4 21.cxd4 a6 is equal (Miedema-Hort, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• If 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Qc7 17.e4 Ne7 18.e5 gives White more freedom (Gligoric-Damjanovic, IT, Sarajevo, 1969).
• If 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Nc7 13.Ng3 Re8 14.Qd3 Ne6 15.Bb2 Qd7 16.e4 cxd4 17.cxd4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Nc7 20.Qd3 Nd5 21.Rae1 Rxe1 22.Rxe1 Re8 23.Re5 f6 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal (Tomic-Szabo, IT, Vinkovci, 1970).
• 12...Re8 13.Qd3 Nb8 14.Ng3 Nc6 transposes into Borg-Kunte, above
• If 5...0-0 6.f3 then:
• If 6...Nh5 7.Nh3 f5 then:
• If 8.e4 then:
• 8...c5 9.e5 Nc6 10.f4 g6 11.Be2 b6 12.0-0 Ng7 13.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Bronstein-Szabo, IZ, Budapest, 1950).


• If 8.e3 d6 then:
• 9.Nf2 9...e5 10.f4 Nf6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.c5 Nc6 is equal; White is already paying a price in lagging development for not being able to develop his Knight to f3 (Volkov-Izoria, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 8...fxe4 9.Be2 e5 10.0-0 d6 11.fxe4 Bxh3 12.Bxh5 Be6 13.Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.Ra2 Nd7 15.Rf2 gives White the advantage in space (Berkes-Dzagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• 9.Bd3 e5 10.0-0 Nc6 11.f4 Qe8 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Ra2 e4 14.Be2 Nf6 15.a4 is equal (Geller-Pogats, IT, Schiavno Zdroj, 1950).
• If 6...Ne8 7.e4 b6 8.Bd3 Ba6 9.Nh3 Nc6 then:
• If 10.0-0 Na5 11.Qe2 c5 12.e5 f6 then:
• 13.Bf4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qe7 16.Rc3 d5 17.exd6 Nxd6 18.c5 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 bxc5 20.dxc5 Nf7 21.Qa6 gives White the advantage.
• 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Rac1 d5 15.Nf4 Nc7 16.exf6 Qxf6 17.cxd5 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 cxd4 19.cxd4 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Bf2 Nc4 gives Black more activity (Topalov-Leko, IT, Dortmund, 2002).
• 10.e5 Na5 11.Qc2 Qh4+ 12.Kd1 Bxc4 13.Bxc4 Nxc4 14.Qe2 d5 15.Bg5 Qh5 16.Be7 c5 17.Nf4 Qf5 18.Nd3 Nc7 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.a4 f6 21.Ke1 cxd4 22.cxd4 fxe5 23.Nxe5 Nxe5 24.Qxe5 Qc2 25.Kf1 Qd3+ 26.Kf2 Qd2+ 27.Kf1 Qd3+ 28.Kf2 Qd2+ 29.Kf1 Qd3+ 30.Kf2 draw (Vasilevich-Yakovich, Op, Isle of Man, 2006).

6.f3 d5 7.Bg5 h6

• 7...Ba6 8.e4 Bxc4 9.Bxc4 dxc4 10.Qa4+ Qd7 11.Qxc4 gives White the advantage in space (Veresov-Yudovich, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1934).

8.Bh4 Ba6 9.e4!

• White assumes the advantage in space.

9...Bxc4

• 9...g5 10.Bg3 dxc4 11.Nh3 Nbd7 12.Qa4 Qc8 13.Bxc4 maintains White's advantage in space.

10.Bxc4 dxc4 11.Qa4+ Qd7 12.Qxc4 Qc6!?

• 12...Nc6 13.Ne2 Na5 14.Qd3 Qc6 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.Rab1 g5 17.Bg3 Nh5 18.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Dr. Alekhine-Eliskases, IT, Hastings, 1933-34).

13.Qd3

• White has the advantage in space and a superior center.
• 13.Qxc6+ Nxc6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne2 Rg8 16.Rg1 also gives White the advantage in the center.

13...Nbd7 14.Ne2 Rd8!?

• True to his style, Capablanca plays directly against the enemy center.
• Somewhat better is to play on the queenside, where Black has a local advantage, with 14...b5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rfc1 a5 17.c4 b4 18.e5, although White would still have the best of it for now.

15.0-0 a5 16.Qc2 Qc4 17.f4

• 17.Rab1!? Rb8 18.Nc1 0-0 19.Qd3 Qc6 20.e5 Nd5 is equal.

17...Rc8 18.f5

• 18.Rad1 c5 19.f5 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Qc6 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.e5 maintains White's advantage in the center.

18...e5!?

• If only on principle, Black should get his King out of the center before taking up aggressive operations there.
• 18...0-0 19.e5 Nd5 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Qg6 Ne3 equalizes.

19.dxe5 Qxe4?

• The former world champion, one of the greatest of all time, doesn't see what's about befall him.
• Better is 19...Qc5+ 20.Nd4 Qxe5 21.Rae1 0-0 22.Bg3, when White has the advantage in space.

BLACK: José Capablanca
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Andor Lilienthal
Position after 19...Qc4e4:p

20.exf6!!

• White's combination is difficult to see, but once found it is incredibly easy to calculate. Black's next few moves are forced,after which he's just plain beaten.

20...Qxc2

• 20...Nxf6 21.Qxe4+ Nxe4 22.Rf4 Nd6 23.Rd1 leaves White up by a piece.

21.fxg7 Rg8 22.Nd4 Qe4

• No better is 22...Qd2 23.Rae1+ Ne5 24.Rxe5+ Kd7 25.Rd5+ Ke8 26.Re1+, when Black must give up the Queen.

23.Rae1!

• White pins and wins the Queen.

23...Nc5

• 23...Qxe1 24.Rxe1+ Ne5 25.Rxe5+ Kd7 26.Re7+ Kd6 27.f6 wins for White.

24.Rxe4+ Nxe4 25.Re1 Rxg7

• There is nothing better. Black is like an animal in shock.

26.Rxe4+ Kd7 1-0

• A plausible follow up is 27.Re7+ Kd6 28.f6 Rh7 29.Bg3+ Kc5 30.Bxc7 when Black is crushed.
• El señor Capablanca resigns without waiting for Lilienthal to reply.

Andor Lilienthal
Born 5 May 1911; died 8 May 2010
(Photo taken in 2006)
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

[Jack Rabbit]

18. Update (Sunday): Vishy and Topa draw in Round 11

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand and challenger Veselin Topalov drew the eleventh game of their world title match just seconds ago in Sofia.

The match is still deadlocked at 5½ points apiece.

The twelfth and last game of the match is scheduled for 3 pm Eastern European Summer Time (5 am PDT) Tuesday. If that game ends in a draw, there will a playoff of rapid and blitz games on Thursday.