The JR Chess Report (December 4): World Women's Championship begins today

[Jack Rabbit]

World Women's Championship Begins in Antakya



Reigning World Women's Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The biannual FIDE knock out tournament to determine the world women's chess champion is underway in Antakya (in Greek Antioch), Hatay province, Turkey, with the first round being played as my staff and I gather the information.

Sixty-four ladies begin the tournament in which each round except the last will take three days to complete. The first two days are taken up with two-game mini-matches and the third day is for rapid and blitz tie breaker games should the regulation game fail to produce a winner. The winner in each round goes on to the next round and the loser is eliminated. In the last round, which will be between the two women left standing out of the sixty-four who start today, will consist of four regulation games and any necessary tie breaks on the fifth day.

The tournament runs through Christmas Eve. The games will be broadcast on the ChessBomb website (select the WWCC 2010 room and go to the game you wish to see). Games begin at 3pm in Antakya (5 am PST).

So far, there are no surprises on the first day of the first round, with winners including reining champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, grandmasters Koneru Humpy (the top seed), Hou Yifan, Antoanetta Stefanova and Nana Dzagnidze and world junior champion Anna Muzychuk.



Fabiano Wins Italian National Championship



Fabiano Caruana
Photo by Ted Cross from flickr (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)

Fabiano Caruana, 18 years old, born in Miami and nurtured in Brooklyn, won his third Italian national championship in four years today in the Tuscan city of Siena.

The young man scored 9 points in 11 rounds to finish a point and a half ahead of his closest rivals. He won seven games without a loss.

Fabiano began the tournament by hanging back on the table and then beat the players who were ahead of him with a burst of victories in the final rounds. Playing Black in the final round today and needing only to avoid loss to wrap up the title, Fabiano defeated international master Denis Rombaldini, who held the lead before Fabiano's late round surge.

Fabiano was born in Miami to an American father and Italian mother, which gives him dual citizenship under Italian law. After living in Brooklyn, where he trained under Bruce Pandolfini, the family moved to Europe and Fabiano joined the Italian Chess Federation. He became a grandmaster at the age of 14.


Vasilios Takes Ninth Title in Greece



Vasilios Kotronias
Photo by karpidis in flickr modified for Wikimedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Veteran Greek grandmaster Vasilios Kotronias won his ninth Greek national championship in 24 years today by finishing a half point ahead of three rivals in Vrahati, near the ancient city of Corinth.

Vasilios chalked up six wins, two draws an one loss for 7 points in nine rounds. Tied for second were Khristos Banikas, the defending champion and the only player to inflict a loss on the new champion, Dimitrios Mastrovasilis, whose loss to Vasilios in the sixth round put Vasilios in first place to stay, and international master Spyridon Kapnisis.

Vasilios, 46, won his first national title in 1986 and his most recent previous title in 2006. Khristos won the title in 2008 and 2009.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

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

Images of the diagrams and other photos are hosted on Imgur.com.

BLACK



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. Czech Coal Team Match, Marianske Lanze

Singing Fountain, Marianske Lanze
Photo by Walter J. Pilsak in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Portisch - Koneru, Round 7

Koneru Humpy
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Lajos Portisch - Koneru Humpy
Czech Coal Team Match, Round 7
Marianske Lazne, 26 November 2010

Queen's Gambit: Nimzo-Ragozin Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qa4

• For moves and variations up to here, see Zhao Xue-N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009.

7...Bxc3+

• 7...c5 8.dxc5 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 0-0 10.Qb4 h6 11.Bh4 Re8 12.e3 Re4 13.Qa3 Qe7 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 is equal (Feller-Palac, French ChT, Le Port Marly, 2009).

8.bxc3 0-0 9.Nd2

• If 9.e3 then:
• If 9...h6 10.Bh4 c5 11.Bd3 c4 12.Bc2 g5 13.Bg3 then:
• 13...Nb6 14.Qb4 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nd2 Nd5 17.Qxc4 Be6 18.Qb5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Romanov-Fressinet, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 13...Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nd2 Nb6 16.Qb4 gives White a small advantage in space (Feller-Gozzoli, Op, Nancy, 2009).
• 9...Qe8 10.Bf4 Qe7 11.Bd3 c5 12.Nd2 Qe6 13.0-0 b6 14.Rae1 Bb7 15.f3 Rfd8 16.Qc2 g6 17.e4 gives White the advantage in space and a pair of active Bishops (Tomashevsky-Bu Xiangzhi, Rpd Team M, Sochi, 2008).

9...h6 (N)

• 9...c5 10.e3 Nb6 11.Qa3 c4 12.Be2 Bf5 13.0-0 Re8 14.Rfe1 h6 15.Bh4 Re6 16.Bf1 g5 is equal (Srebrmic-N. Koskintseva, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

10.Bh4

• The game is equal.

10...c5!?

• White has a slight advantage in space.
• 10...Nb6 11.Qc2 Bd7 12.e3 c5 13.dxc5 Na4 remains equal.

11.e3 Nb6 12.Qa3!?

• The game is again equal.
• 12.Qa5 c4 13.Be2 Bf5 14.0-0 Nbd7 is equal.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Lajos Portisch
Position after 12.Qa4a3

12...c4!

• In the opinion of your humble hare and his staff, Black is now slightly better (Rybka calls the game even). White will have difficulty developing his King's Bishop after the text move, although 13.Be2 seems necessary to get the Bishop out, it has no good squares to move to from there.

13.Be2 Bf5 14.0-0 Re8 15.Rfe1

• If 15.Bf3 then:
• 15...Bd3 16.Rfe1 Re6 17.h3 a5 continues to make it difficult for White to find good posts for his pieces.
• 15...Nbd7!? 16.Bxd5! g5 17.Bxb7 Rb8 18.Bf3 gxh4 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns.

15...Nbd7 16.Bd1

• White will try to develop his Bishop on the queenside.

16...Bd3

• 16...b5 17.Qb2 Rb8 18.Bg3 (the pawn at b5 prevents White from playing the Bishop to the queenside) 18...Rb7 19.Bf3 Qb6 gives Black potential power on the queenside with her pawns.

17.Be2

• White offers to trade his good Bishop.

17...Bg6

• Why should Black help her opponent solve his problems?

18.Bd1

• This was probably a better idea anyway.

18...Re6 19.Bg4!?

• This is as much use as White can make of it's light-bound Bishop. The Black Rook has active square to which it can go and the Knight at d7 is nicely overprotected.
• If 19.Qc1 Bf5 then:
• 20.h3 Rc8 21.Bc2 Bd3 22.a4 Qa5 23.Bd1 Ne8 24.Bg4 f5 continues to give White problems placing his pieces.
• 20.Bg3 Rc8 21.a4 Rb6 22.Bc2 Bd3 23.h3 Rcc6 gives Black active Rooks.

19...Ra6 20.Qc1 Qa5 21.Bh3!?

• The Bishop will remain in exile here, almost entombed, for some time.
• 21.Bxd7 Nxd7 22.a4 Re8 23.Qb2 gives Black the advantage in space.

21...Qa3 22.f3

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Lajos Portisch
Position after 22.f2f3

22...Bd3!

• This may be more effective now than before. White's Bishops in the h-file are ineffective and now the Black Bishop at d3 all but puts the light squares in White's camp off limits to his pieces.

23.Qxa3 Rxa3

• Even the exchange of Queens cannot relieve the pressure on White's position.

24.Nb1 Ra6 25.Bg3

• Better is 25.Nd2 Rb6 26.Bf2 a5 27.Nf1 Rb2 28.a4 Kf8 when Black pressure against White continues and White still can't use his light-bound Bishop.

25...Nb6 26.a3?!

• The pawn is of more use at a2, keepin the Rook out og b3.
• Black is still stronger after 26.Bc7 Na4 27.Be5 Rb6 28.Bxf6 Rxf6 29.Bd7 Ra6 , although White has finally made use of his light-bound Bishop.

26...Na4 27.Be5 Rb6?!

• Black ignores her strategically important points; both the Knight at a4 and the pawn at d5 are hanging.
• 27...Rd8! (covering the d-pawn and keeping the Knight covered) 28.Bc7 Re8 29.Kf2 Rc6 30.Be5 Re7 leaves White still cramped and Black still defending her imporatant points.

28.Bxf6 gxf6!?

• Black unnecessarily weakens her kingside pawns.
• 28...Rxf6 29.Bd7 Nb2 30.Ra2 Rb6 31.a4 Bg6 keeps Black's pressure deep into White's position strong.

29.Bd7!

• Black's once huge advantage is greatly reduced; White is seriously fighting for a draw.

29...Nb2 30.e4?

• Perhaps overoptimisc, White opens the center to Black's benefit.
• 30.a4! cuts off the Knight's escape route and now 30...Rd8 31.Bh3 Rb3 32.e4 dxe4 33.fxe4 b6 34.Bf5! is equal.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy



WHITE: Lajos Portisch
Position after 30.e3e4

30...Rd8!

• Black is now back in command.

31.Bh3

• If 31.Bg4 Na4 32.f4 Bxe4 then:
• If 33.Bd1 Rb2 34.Bxa4 Rxg2+ 35.Kf1 Rb2 36.Rd1 b5 wins for Black.
• If 33.Nd2 then 33...Nxc3 34.Nxe4 dxe4 35.Rac1 Rb3! Black wins.

31...Na4 32.Kf2 Rb3 33.Ke3

• 33.Rc1 dxe4 34.fxe4 Bxe4 35.Ke3 f5 wins for Black.

33...b5

• 33...Bxb1 34.Raxb1 Rxc3+ 35.Kf4 Rb3 36.Rxb3 cxb3 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

34.Rc1 a5 35.Bf5

• No better is 35.g3 Bxb1 36.Raxb1 Rxb1 37.Rxb1 Nxc3 giving Black an easy win as her queenside pawns roll forward.

35...Bxb1 36.Raxb1 Rxb1 37.Rxb1 Nxc3 0-1

• Black is a pawn to the good and, with the queenside pawns rolling over the ruins of White's position, further resistance is futile.
• If 38.Rc1 b4 39.axb4 axb4 then:
• 40.exd5 Nxd5+ 41.Kd2 bxc3 42.Kd3 b3 White must give up his Rook to stop the Black pawns.
• 40.g4 Na2 41.Rb1 b3 42.exd5 Nxc3 43.Rc1 Nxd5+ the pawns keep coming torward.
• Grandmaster Portisch resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Cmilyte - Velimirovic, Round 1

Viktorija Cmilyte
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Viktorija Cmilyte - Dragoljub Velimirovic
Czech Coal Team Match, Round 1
Marianske Lazne, 20 November 2010

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Catalan Opening) (Modern Benoni)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4

• For an overview of the Tal-Indian, or Modern Benoni, see Maier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009. See the blue notes to White's seventh move for note especially relevant to this game.

2...c5 3.d5 d6 4.Nc3 g6 5.g3 e6 6.Bg2 exd5 7.cxd5 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 Re8 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 Ne5

• If 13...Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7 then:
• If 15.e4 Qc7 then:
• If 16.Be3 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Nxe4 18.Nc2 then:
• If 18...b5 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Rxa6 b4 22.Bf4 Rb6 23.Rxb6 Qxb6 24.Bd2 Be5 25.Ne3 then:
• If 25...Bd4 26.Re1 Bb5 27.h4 Qa6 28.h5 Qa2 gives Black a small advantage in space (Mikhalevski-Cebalo, 10th Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 25...Bb5 26.Re1 Ra8 27.Ng4 gives White a small advantage in space (Osnos-Moskalenko, URS-ch sf, Sverdlovsk, 1984).
• 18...a5?! 19.Re1 b5 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Nc3 Ree8 is equal (Morrison-Ivanisevich, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
• 16.Re1 then:
• If 16...Nxa4 17.Nxa4 b5 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Be3 then:
• If 19...Qc8 20.Rc1 Qb7 then:
• If 21.Bd4 Rbc8 then:
• 22.Nc2 b4 23.Qd2 a5 24.f3 Bb5 25.Ne3 Nd7 26.f4 is equal (Bogner-Gruenfeld, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 22.b4 Rxc1 23.Qxc1 Rc8 24.Qd2 Ne8 25.f4 Bxd4+ 26.Qxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Akopian-Yudaskin, Zonal, Lvov, 1990).
• 21.Bf4 Qb6 22.Be3 Qd8 23.Bf4 Bc8 24.Rc6 Bf8 25.Nc2 Bb7 26.Rc3 gives White a small advantage in space (Olsson-Brynell, Nordic Ch, Bergen, 2001).
• 19...Qc7 20.Bd4 Re7!? 21.Rc1 Qa5 22.Bc3 Qb6 23.Bd4 Qa5 24.Nc2 Rbe8 25.e5 gives White the advantage in space (Solozhenkin-Maki, Finnish ChT, Finland, 2001).
• 16...Nc8 17.Qd3 Na7 18.Nc4 b5 19.axb5 Nxb5 20.Bd2 Qc8 21.Bf4 Bf8 22.g4 gives White a significant advantage in space (Laznicka-Smerdon, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
• If 15.a5 Nc8 16.Nc4 Bb5 17.Qb3 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 Nd7 then:
• 19.e4 b5 20.axb6 Ncxb6 21.Qe2 a5 22.Rd1 Ne5 23.Rxa5 gives White an extra pawn (Hudecek-Stocek, Op, Pardubice, 1997).
• 19.Ra2 Ne5 20.Qa4 b5 21.axb6 Rxb6 22.Bd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Stohl-Maki, IT, Leningrad, 1984).

14.Na3 Qc7

• If 14...Nh5 15.e4 then:
• If 15...Bd7 then:
• If 16.a5 Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6 18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4 20.Bf3 h5 then:
• 21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.Qd3 b5 gives Black rolling queenside pawn thretening to leave White's Knights flat in the road (Clavijo-Delchev, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• An alternative is 21.Nc2 Qd8 22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4 when Black's pawns have disrupted White's position and the kingside attack has started (Vasilievich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 16.g4 b5 17.axb5 axb5 then:
• 18.Naxb5 Bxb5 19.Nxb5 Rxb5 20.gxh5 Qb6 21.Ra2 Rb8 is equal (Paul-Hohm, Corres, 1999).
• 18.Nc2 b4 19.Ne2 Nf6 20.g5 Nh5 21.f4 Nc4 gives Black a significant advantage in space (Akopian-Marin, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• If 15...Rf8 16.Kh2 then:
• If 16...f5 17.f4 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Naxb5 fxe4 20.Na7 then:
• 20...Nf3+ 21.Bxf3 exf3 22.Nxc8 Qxc8 23.Rxf3 Bd4 leaves White a pawn up but Black ap-pears to be more active ().
• 20...e3 21.Qe2 Nxg3 22.Kxg3 g5 23.f5 Bxf5 24.Qxe3 gives White an extra piece (Alburt-H. Olafsson, IT, Reykjavik, 1982).
• 16...Bd7 17.Qe2 f5 18.f4 fxe4 19.Bxe4 Qe7 20.Bd2 Nf7 21.Rae1 Nf6 gives White a slight advantage in space (Jirka-Koehler, IM Trmt, Griesheim, 2002).

15.e4!? (N)

• If 15.f4! Ned7 16.e4 b6 then:
• If 17.Qd3! then:
• b5?!
• 17...Nh5 18.Kh2 h6 19.Be3 Nhf6 20.Rfe1 gives White the advantage in space, but the game is not spinning out of Black's control.
18.axb5 c4? 19.Qxc4! Qa7+ 20.Kh2 axb5 21.Ncxb5 gives White two extra pawns and a significant advantage in space (Jirka-Esplana, World Jr Ch, Nakhchivan.2003)
• 17.Kh2!? Bb7 18.Qd3 Rbc8 19.Nc4 Ba8 20.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space (Szabo-Unzicker, Ol, Moscow, 1956)

15...c4

• The game is equal.

16.Be3 b6 17.Qe2 Bd7 18.Nc2 Nd3 19.Nd4!?

• White should try to expel the octopus before it gets hungry.
• If 19.Ne1 then:
• If 19...Nxe1 20.Rfxe1 b5 21.axb5 axb5 (it's easier to give White temporary control the a-file rather than to try to keep it closed) 22.Qc2 b4 remains equal.
• 21...Bxb5 22.f4 a5 23.Qf2 Bd7 24.f5 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 19...Nc5 20.Qxc4 Qc8 21.f3 Bxh3 22.Bd4 Bd7 is equal.

19...b5!

• Black assumes the advantage in space.

20.axb5 axb5 21.Nc6 b4!?

• Black, perhaps deliberately trying to shake things up, misses a chance to win a pawn and ignores White's reply.
• 21...Bxc6 22.dxc6 b4 23.Ra7 Qxc6 gives Black an extra pawn.

22.Ra7!

• The game is again equal.

22...Qc8 23.Nxb8 Qxb8 24.Rfa1 bxc3 25.bxc3 Qc8?!

• Black eschews an equal position to revel in complications.
• 25...Qb3! 26.R7a3 Qb5 27.Ra5 Qb8 28.Ra7 Qb3 is a probable draw.

BLACK: Dragoljub Velimirovic



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 25...Qb8c8

26.Bd4!?

• The place for White's heavy pieces is the a-file.
• If 26.Qa2! then:
• If 26...h5 27.Bd4 then:
• 27...Rf8 28.Ra8 Qxa8 29.Qxa8 Rxa8 30.Rxa8+ Ne8 31.Bxg7 Kxg7 32.Ra7 gives White a strong initiative.
• 27...h4 28.Ra8 Qc7 29.g4 Rc8 30.Qa6 gives White the better ending after exchanges on c8.
• 26...Rf8 27.Kh2 Rd8 28.Qa5 Ne5 29.Bd4 Nd3 30.Qa6 gives White the better ending after exchanges.

26...Bxh3 27.Ra8!?

• The simple recapture is much better.
• If 27.Bxh3! Qxh3 28.Ra8 then:
• 28...Rf8 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Qa2 Qc8 remains equal.
• If 28...Kf8!? then:
• 29.Qf3 Rxa8 30.Rxa8+ Ne8 31.Bxg7+ Kxg7 32.Rxe8 Ne1 leaves White up by the exchange.
• 29.e5?! dxe5 30.Bxe5 Nxe5 31.Qxe5 Qh2+! 32.Kxh2 Ng4+ gives Black a material advantage.

27...Qxa8 28.Rxa8 Rxa8 29.Bxh3 Re8?!

• Black misses the opportunity to counterattack.
• If 29...Ra1+! 30.Kh2 then:
• 30...h5! 31.f3 h4 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 30...h6!? 31.f3 Nh5 32.Bg2 remains equal.

30.Bg2!?

• White misses an opportunity to gain a huge advantage.
• If 30.Bxf6 Bxf6 31.Bf1 Kg7 32.Qe3 then:
• If 32...Nc5 then White is clearly better after 33.f3 Ra8 34.f4 Nd7 35.Qc1.
• 32...Bxc3 33.Bxd3 cxd3 34.Qxd3 puts White on a fast road to victory.

30...Nxd5?

• This move gives White time to build a fierce initiative.
• 30...Ra8 31.Qd1 Ra2 32.Qb1 Rb2 33.Qa1 Ng4 34.Qa8+ leaves White with only a slight advantage.

BLACK: Dragoljub Velimirovic



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 30...Nf6d5:p

31.Bxg7

• Black is unlikely to recover after this blow.
• Even better is 31.Qc2! when:
• 31...Nc7 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Qa4 leaves White prepare to pound White's cente and pick up a pawn or two.
• 31...Bxd4 32.cxd4 Nb6 33.Qb1 Rb8 34.Qb5.

31...Kxg7 32.Qa2 Nf6 33.Qxc4 Nc5

• 33...Ne5 34.Qa4 Rb8 35.Qd1 gives White promising activity,

34.f3

• If 34.Qd4! then:
• If 34...Ne6 White has a strong position after 35.Qxd6 Rd8 36.Qe5.
• 34...Rd8 loses quickly to 35.e5 Nfd7 36.e6+ Nf6 37.e7.

34...g5

• No better is 34...Rc8 35.Qb4 Rc6 36.Bf1 h5 37.Qb5.

35.Qd4 Ne6 36.Qxd6 Rd8 37.Qe5 Rc8

• 37...Rd1+ 38.Kf2 Rd2+ 39.Kf1 g4 40.fxg4 h6 41.Qf5 followed by 42. e5 is crushing.

BLACK: Dragoljub Velimirovic



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 37... Rd8c8

38.Qa5!

• White's plan is to win with the c-pawn.

38...h5

• Black begins some divertions on the kingside, preventing White from immediately carrying out her plan.
• If 38...Rc5 allows White to make progress after 39.Qb4 Rc7 40.c4.

39.Bf1 g4 40.e5 Nh7 41.f4 h4 42.gxh4

• If 42.f5 Neg5 43.gxh4 Nf3+ 44.Kf2 Nxh4 then:
• 45.Qb4 g3+ 46.Ke2 g2 47.Qg4+ Kh8 48.Bxg2 leaves White with an easy win.
• 45.Qa4 Rxc3 46.Qxg4+ wins a Knight.

42...Nxf4 43.Qb4 Ng6 44.Qxg4 Rc5

• If 44...Re8 then White makes progress after 45.Bd3 Rxe5 46.Bxg6 fxg6 47.Qd7+ Kh6 48.c4.
• The rest requires no comment.

45.Bd3 Rxe5 46.Qd4 Nf6 47.Bxg6 Rd5 48.Qe3 Kxg6 49.c4 Rh5 50.Qg3+ Kh7 51.Qf4 Kg6 52.Qd4 Rf5 53.c5 Nd5 54.c6 Nf4 55.Qd6+ Rf6

BLACK: Dragoljub Velimirovic



WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 55...Rf5f6

56.Qxf6+!! 1-0

• The Queen sacrifice rounds off the game.
• If Kxf6 then after 56.c7 the pawn cannot be stopped.
• Grandmaster Velimorivic resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Velimorivic- Cmilyte, Round 5

Dragoljub Velimirovic
Photo ©Vladimir Jagr from the website of the Prague Chess Society, used with the premission of Pavel Matocha of the Prague Chess Society


Dragoljub Velimirovic (Old Hands) - Viktorija Cmilyte (Snowdrops)
Czech Coal Team Match, Round 5
Marianske Lazne, 24 November 2010

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Four Pawns' Opening) (Alekhine's Defense)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4

• For the Exchange Opening, 5.exd6, see Nakamura-Shabalov, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).

5...dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 7.Be3 Bf5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3 Be7 10.d5

• If 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Qc1 then:
• 15...h6 16.h3 Kh8 17.Kh1 Bh7 18.Bg1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Hecht-Timman, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1976).
• 15...Rfe8 16.Rf2 Bg6 17.b3 e5 18.d5 e4 19.Ng5 Nd4 20.Bg4 c5 21.Be6+ Nxe6 22.Nxe6 Rc8 23.Nb5 gives White more active pieces (Stein-Podgaets, Tng Trmt, Soviet Union, 1971).

10...exd5

• If 10...Nb4 11.Rc1 then:
• 11...f6 12.a3 Na6 13.g4 Bxg4 14.Rg1 f5 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 0-0 17.Rc2 Qd7 18.Rd2 is equal (Velimirovic-Gipslis, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1971).
• 11...exd5 12.a3 c5 13.axb4 d4 14.Bxd4 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bg6 16.c5 0-0 17.cxb6 Bxb4 18.Be2 gives White an extra piece (Nunn-Holloway, Britisgh Ch, Clacton, 1974).

11.Bxb6

• If 11.cxd5 Nb4 12.Nd4 Bd7 then:
• If 13.e6 fxe6 14.dxe6 Bc6 15.Qg4 Bh4+ 16.g3 then:
• If 16...Bxh1 then:
• If 17.0-0-0 0-0 18.gxh4 Qf6 then:
• If 19.Be2 then:
• 19...Qe5 20.Bg5 c5 21.e7 cxd4 22.exf8Q+ Rxf8 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.Rxd4 Nc6 is equal (Gaprindashvili-Alexandria, Match, Picunda/Tbilisi. 1975).
• 19...Bd5 20.Bg5 Qe5 21.e7 Rfe8 22.Nxd5 N4xd5 23.Nf5 Kh8 24.Bd3 Nxe7 25.Nxe7 Rxe7 26.Bxe7 Qxe7 gives Black an extra pawn and better pawn structure (Henrik-Alburt, Op, Lund, 1976).
• 19.Bb5 c5 20.Rxh1 Qe5 21.Nc2?! Nxc2 22.Bg5 Nd4 23.e7 Rf2 gives Black excellent winning chances (Etmans-J. Prins, Corres, 1989).
• If 17.Bb5+ c6 18.0-0-0 then:
• If 18...0-0!? 19.gxh4 h5 20.Qg3 cxb5 21.Bg5 then:
• If 21...Qb8!? 22.e7 Re8 23.Rxh1 then:
• 23...Qxg3?! 24.hxg3 Rac8 25.Kb1 a6 26.Ne4! Rc7 leaves Black with nothing more than a slight edge in space (Velimirovic-Kovacevic, Yugoslav Ch, Subotica, 1984).
• 23...Qc8! 24.a3 Na2+ 25.Kb1 Nxc3+ 26.bxc3 Qc4 gives Black a winning position.
• 21...Nxa2+ 22.Nxa2 Qd5 23.Nc3 Rac8 leaves Black with a Rook and a pawn against a Knight and active heavy pieces.
• 18...cxb5 19.Rxh1 Be7 20.Qxg7 Rf8 21.Rd1 Qc8 leaves Black with an extra Rook.
• 13.Qf3 c5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Be2 0-0 16.0-0 N4d5 17.Bf2 Qc7 18.Bg3 gives White the advantage in space and the better center (Domínguez-Almeida, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2005).

11...axb6 12.cxd5 Nb4 13.Nd4 Bg6 14.d6 Bh4+ 15.g3 Qg5 ?! (N)

• 15...0-0 16.Qb3?! c5 17.Ncb5 Qg5 18.Be2 cxd4 19.Qxb4 Qxe5 20.gxh4 d3 wins for Black (Neumann-J. Prins, Corres, 1989).

16.d7+?

• 16.Kf2! Qxe5 17.Qg4 Qf6+ 18.Kg1 Qxd6 19.Qxh4 gives White a small advantage in space and a material edge.

16...Kd8!

• With the King out of the e-file, Black's Queen becomes suddenly menacing.

17.Kf2 Qxe5

• See previous note.

18.gxh4 Nd3+ 19.Bxd3 Qxd4+ 20.Kg2

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte



WHITE: Dragoljub Velimirovic
Position after 20.Kf2g2

20...Bxd3!?

• This is the beginning a series of inferior moves by Black that finally costs her the game.
• Better is 20...Qxd3! 21.Re1 Qxd1 22.Raxd1 Bf5 when Black's position grows stronger as her Rooks become active.

21.Re1 h5?!

• As Nimzovich said, advance the candidate pawn first.
• Better is 21...f5! when after 22.Qf3 Qg4+ 23.Qg3 Ra5 24.Rad1 Bb5 Black is a pawn to the good with more freedom and activity.

22.Kh1!? Qd6 23.Qd2

• The Queen has more freedom here.
• 23.a3? Qc6+! 24.Kg1 Rh6! 25.Re3 Rg6+ 26.Rg3 Qc5+ gives Black a winning position.

23...Bc4?!

• If 23...Bf5! 24.Qe3 Bxd7 25.Rad1 Qc6+ gives Black a winning position.

24.Qg2 Qc6 25.Ne4

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte



WHITE: Dragoljub Velimirovic
Position after 25.Nc3e4

25...Bd5!?

• After this, if she is to win at all, Black must win the game all over again.
• 25...Rg8! 26.a3 then:
• 26...Qg6! 27.Qd2 Ra5 28.Re3 Rd5 29.Qc2 Bd3 leaves Black dominating the board.
• If 26...Bd5!? then after 27.Rad1! Bxe4 28.Rxe4 Ra5 29.b4 White is building his own threats.

26.Rad1 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 Ra4?

• Black should find a more navigable lane for her Rook.
• Better is 27...Ra5 28.Rde1 Kxd7 29.Qxg7 Rd8 30.Rd1+ Rd5 when Black maintains a strong, active advantage.

28.b4!

• The game is equal.

28...b5??

• This is a terrible blunder. Suddenly, Black is lost.
• 28...f5 29.Qg5+ Qf6 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.dxe8Q+ Kxe8 32.Qxh5+ remains equal.

29.Qg5+ Qf6

• If 29...f6 then 30.Qg6 threatens mate on e8 beginning with 31.Qe8+!!.

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte



WHITE: Dragoljub Velimirovic
Position after 29...Qc6f6

30.Qd5!?

• White is taking the long way home.
• The correct winning procedure is 30.Qe3! Qc6 31.Kg1 Qg6+ 32.Kf1 Qf5+ 33.Ke1 , which brings us to the text position at move 38 when Black must either surrender her Queen or submit to mate on e8.

30...Qc6 31.Qe5

• Again, White misses the winning procedure 31.Re8+? fails against 31...Rxe8 32.dxe8Q+ Kxe8 33.Qxc6+ bxc6.

31...Qe6 32.Qd4!?

• 32.Qg5+! Qf6 33.Qe3 etc.

32...Qd6 33.Qg1 Qc6

• 33...Qg6 34.Qe3 Qc6 35.Kg1 Qg6+ 36.Kf1 etc. wins as in the note to White's 30th move.

34.Qg5+! Qf6

BLACK: Viktorija Cmilyte



WHITE: Dragoljub Velimirovic
Position after 34.Qg5e3

35.Qe3!

• This is the position in the note to White's 30th move.

35...Qc6

• 35...Qg6 loses immediately to 36.Re8+!!.

36.Kg1 Qg6+ 37.Kf1 Qf5+ 38.Ke1

• Black must either surrender her Queen or submit to mate on e8.

38...Qxe4 39.Qxe4 Ra6 40.Qxb7 1-0

• White mates on the next move.
• Ms. Cmilyte resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. 16th Asian Games, Men's and Women's Team Competitions. Guangzhou

Guangzhou Metro
Photo by David Wong in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Bu Xiangzhi - Vladimirov, Men's Team Competition, Round 7

Bu Xiangzhi
Photo by Frank Bettany form Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike))


Bu Xiangzhi (China) - Evgeny Vladimirov (Kazakhstan)
16th Asian Games (Men Teams), Round 7
Guangzhou, 24 November 2010

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Main Line)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.d4

• For the main line of the Queen's Indian, see Grischuk-Topalov, IT, Linares, 2010).

7...Ne4 8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.Qxc3 c5

• If 9...f5 10.b3 Bf6 11.Bb2 d6 12.Rad1 then:
• If 12...Qe7 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Nd7 then:
• 15.Qf3 15...Bg5 16.e4 fxe4 17.Qxe4 is equal (Andersson-Rozentalis, IT, Tilburg, 1993).
• }15.Qc2 Rae8 16.e4 fxe4 17.Qxe4 c5 is equal (Smyslov-Spassky, tng, Leningrad, 1963).
• 12...a5 13.Ne1 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Nc6 15.Qf3 Qd7 16.Nf4 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Nxd4 18.Rxd4 e5 19.Rd5 exf4 20.Qxf4 Rae8 is equal (Polugaevsky-Korchnoi, Candidates' M sf, Buenos Aires, 1980).

10.Rd1 d6 11.Bf4

• If 11.b3 Bf6 12.Bb2 then:
• If 12...Qe7 13.Qc2 Nc6 14.e4 then:
• If 14...e5 15.d5 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 then:
• If 17.Rab1 Rae8 18.Ne1 g6 19.Nd3 Bg7 20.Re1 Bc8 then:
• 21.f4 Qc7 22.Nf2 Re7 23.Bh3 f5 24.Re2 g5 25.Bxf5 gxf4 26.g4 Bxf5 27.gxf5 is equal (Drasko-Marjanovic, IT, Sarajevo, 1984).
• 21.Re2 Qc7 22.Rbe1 Re7 23.h4 Bg4 24.f3 Bc8 25.Kh2 Bh6 26.f4 Bg4 27.Rd2 Rfe8 is equal (Tarjan-Gruenfeld, Op, Lone Pine, 1979).
• 17.Qd3 Rae8 18.Re1 Bc8 19.h4 g6 20.Qf1 Bg7 21.Bh3 Qf6 22.Nd2 Bxh3 23.Qxh3 d3 is equal (Timman-Browne, IT, Amsterdam, 1978).
• 14...g6 15.d5 Nb4 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qd2 e5 18.a3 Na6 19.Ng5 Rae8 20.f4 Bc8 draw (Timman-Andersson, IT, Bugojno, 1980).
• 12...Qc7 13.Qd2 Rd8 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Qf4 Na6 16.Qxc7 Nxc7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Ne1 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Kf8 20.Rd3 Rxd3 21.Nxd3 Ke7 22.Rd1 Ne8 23.g4 draw (Hort-Karpov, IT, Buenos Aires, 1980).

11...Qc7

• If 11...Nd7 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Rac1 then:
• 13...Rc8 14.b4 Ne4 15.Qa3 Qc7 16.Nd4 a6 17.Qd3 Nxf2 18.Kxf2 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 gives White the advantage in space (Drasko-Gligoric, IT, Sarajevo, 1986).
• 13...Qc7 14.b4 Ne4 15.Qd3 e5 16.Be3 Nxf2 17.Kxf2 e4 18.Qb3 exf3 19.Bxf3 is equal (Nikolic-Gligoric, Yugoslav Ch, Vrbas, 1982).

12.d5

• 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Qd3 Rd8 14.b4 e5 15.Ng5 g6 16.Bd5 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Christiansen-Reshevsky, Match, Hollywood, 1984).

12...exd5

• If 12...e5 13.Bd2 then:
• 13...a6 14.Qd3 Nd7 15.Ng5 Nf6 is equal.
• 13...b5?! 14.cxb5 Bxd5 15.Qd3! Bb7 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 gives White more space and activity.

13.cxd5 Bf6 14.Qc2 Qe7

• 14...Nd7 15.Rab1 a5 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 remains equal.

15.Rd3 g5!?

• Pawns in front of the castled King should advance with caution (Hans Kmoch, Pawn Power in Chess). This is a reckless advance.
• If 15...Na6 16.a3 g5 17.Be3 Nc7 18.h4 h6 remains equal.

BLACK: Evgeny Vladimirov



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 15...g7g5

16.Bd2!

• The Bishop retreats to a flexible post. If necessary and at on opportune moment, it can play to c3 and command the long diagonal.

16...Nd7?!

• Black wants to block the e-file by playing the Knight to e5, but this will do him little good.
• Better is 16...Na6 17.h4 h6 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.Re1 Qd8 20.Qc4 when White has a small advantage in space.
(

• 16...g4 17.Re3 Qd8 18.Nh4 Bxh4 19.gxh4 Nd7 20.Bc3 gives White command of important avenues of attack.

17.Re3!

• White gains time by attacking the Queen and takes command of the e-file.

17...Qd8

• This retreat is better than playing the Knight to e5. So what is the Knight doing at d7?
• If 17...Ne5? 18.Bc3! Rad8 19.Rd1 then:
• 19...Qd7 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.Rxe5 gives White an extra pawn and an active Rook.
• If 19...Bg7 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.d6 then:
• 21...Rxd6 22.Rxd6 Bxg2 23.Bxe5 Bxe5 24.Rh6 f6 25.Kxg2 leaves White up by the exchange. It is doubtful Black can bounce back from here.
• 21...Qd7 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Bxe5 Qc6 24.Qd2 gives White an extra pawn.

18.Qf5 Bc8?

• Black may have 19...Ne5 in mind, but White shows that that was an illusion in his mind.
• 18...h6 19.h4 Bxb2 20.Re1 Bc8 21.hxg5 Bg7 22.gxh6 still gives White a fighting chance.

19.Nxg5!

• The outcome is now in little doubt.

19...Bxg5

BLACK: Evgeny Vladimirov



WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 19...Bf6g5:N

20.Be4!!

• Almost out of nowhere, White has conjured mating threats.
• It would be a waste of valuable time to attempt to capture the Knight:
• 20.Rd3? h6! 21.Bxg5 hxg5 22.Be4 Nf6 is equal.

20...Re8

• Everything Black plays from here to about move 25 is forced. Black must provide a safe square for his King as the check on h7 cannot be avoided.

21.Qxh7+ Kf8 22.Bg6 Qf6

• If 22...Ne5 then White wins after 23.Rxe5 fxg6 24.Bxg5.

23.Rf3 Ne5

• This is also forced. Any other move results in mate at h8.

24.Rxf6 Bxf6 25.Bf5 Ke7

• Resignation is in order any time.
• No better is 25...Bxf5 26.Qxf5 Bg7 27.Qc2 Nd7 28.Re1.

26.Bxc8 Raxc8 27.Qe4 1-0

• White's material advantage is equivalent to three pawns and assures him victory.
• Grandmaster Vladimirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Hou Yifan _ Pourkashyan, Women's Team Competition, Round 2

Hou Yifan
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Hou Yifan (China) - Atousa Pourkashiyan (Iran)
16th Asian Games (Women Teams), Round 2
Guangzhou, 19 November 2010

Italian Royal Game: Classical Defense (Clam Opening) (Giucco Pianissimo)

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.c3 a6 6.Bb3 h6

• 6...d6 7.0-0 Ba7 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.h3 h6 10.Re1 Nh5 11.Nf1 Qf6 12.Be3 Nf4 transposes into the notes after Black's tenth move.

7.Nbd2 Ba7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0

• 9.Nf1 d5 10.Qe2 Be6 11.Bc2 Re8 12.Ng3 b5 gives White the advantage in space (Klinova-Qin Kanying, FIDE Knock Out W, New Delhi, 2000).

9...d6 10.Re1 Re8

• If 10...Nh5 11.Nf1 Qf6 12.Be3 Nf4 then:
• If 13.Ng3 g6 14.Nh2 h5 15.Qd2 then:
• If 15...Bxe3 16.fxe3 Ne6 17.Rf1 Qh4 18.Qf2 Ng5 19.Kh1 Be6 20.Bc2 Rae8 is equal (Getz-O'Toole, Masters 0910, Hastings, 2010).
• 15...Nd8 16.Ne2 g5 17.Nxf4 gxf4 18.Bxa7 Rxa7 19.Qe2 gives White the initiatkive (Getz-Meszaros, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• If 13.Bxa7 Rxa7 14.Ne3 Ne7 15.Kh2 Ra8 then:
• 16.Ng1 16...Be6 17.g3 Bxb3 18.axb3 Ne6 19.Kg2 g6 20.Nf3 Qg7 21.d4 is equal (Godena-Warakomski, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 16.a4 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Ng1 Rad8 19.g3 Nfg6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Karpov-Jussupow, IT, Bugojno, 1986).

11.Nf1 Be6 12.Ng3

• 12.Bc2 d5 13.Bd2 Bc5 14.b4 Bf8 15.a4 b5 16.Ng3 draw (Howell-Tomashevsky, IT, Biel, 2010).

12...d5 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.Bc2 Rad8 15.Nh2

• 15.Kh2 b5 16.Nh4 d4 17.a3 a5 18.Nhf5 Ne7 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.a4 dxc3 21.bxc3 b4 gives Black a respectable advantage in space (Mahini-Pourkashiyan, ZTW, Tehran, 2001).

15...Bc5

• 15...b5 16.Qf3 Nh7 17.Ng4 d4 18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qd6 20.Bb3 is equal (Domínguez-Mamedyarov, World Blitz Ch, Almaty, 2008).

16.Qf3

• Black has a small advantage in space.

16...Be7 17.Nh5!?

• This allows Black a free hand in the center.
• If 17.Nf5 then after 17...Kh8 18.Nxe7 Qxe7 19.exd5 Bxd5 20.Qg3 when Black continues to enjoy a slight edge in space.

17...Nxh5 18.Qxh5 Bf8!?

• Black is left with a slight edge in space, but a vulnerable center.
• Better is 18...d4 19.Nf3 Qd6 20.c4 b5 21.cxb5 axb5 when Black has a more stable center; she will play to the queenside.

19.Ng4!?

• White had the opportunity to challenge Black's center.
• If 19.exd5 Bxd5 then:
• If 20.Nf1! Be6 then:
• 21.Ng3 f5 22.b4 Ne7 23.Bb2 g6 24.Qf3 Bd5 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
• 21.Nd2 a5 22.Qd1 b5 23.a4 b4 24.Nc4 f6 solidifies Black's occupation of e5, but d4 is not available as an outpost to Black and it would take the Knight three moves to reach f4.
• 20.Ng4 f5 21.Ne3 Be6 22.b4 f4 23.Nc4 continues to give Black at least a small advantage in space

19...Qd6!?

• Black is trying to stablize the center without advancing to d4.
• 19...d4! 20.Bd2 Qe7 21.Nh2 b5 22.Rec1 Ra8 gives Black a more substantial advantage than she has enjoyed up to now.

BLACK: Atousa Pourkashyan



WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 19...Qd7d6

20.Re3!

• The game is equal.

20...Bxg4 21.hxg4 dxe4 22.dxe4 Qg6?!

• White is by no means obligated to accept the offer to exchange Queens and Black has better things to do than make this proposal.
• 22...Na5 23.Rg3 g6 24.Qh3 g5 25.b3 gives White nothing more than a slight advantage in space.

23.Qh3!?

• Good, but not the best.
• 23.Qxg6 fxg6 24.g5 Na5 25.b4 Nc4 26.Bb3 gives White more freedom.

23...Be7 24.Rf3 Bg5!?

• The game remains equal.
• 24...Na5 25.Qh5 Qxh5 26.gxh5 Nc4 27.Bd3 Nd6 28.Rg3 also remains equal.

25.Bb3!?

• Slightly better is 25.Bxg5 Qxg5 26.Bb3 Re7 27.Bd5 Qd2 28.Rd3 when White has the advantage in space.

25...Rd7 26.Bxg5 Qxg5?

• Black removes a critical defender from f7.
• If 26...hxg5 27.Qh2 Kf8 28.Qh8+ Ke7 29.Bxf7 Rxh8 30.Bxg6 leaves Black with resources to continue the struggle a bit longer.

27.Rf5!

• White has a fierce initiative.

27...Qg6

BLACK: Atousa Pourkashyan



WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 27... Qg5g6

28.g5!!

• White sacrifices a pawn to clear the g-file for her heavy pieces.

28...hxg5 29.Qg4 Red8 30.Rxg5 Qf6 31.Rg6!?

• This loses some ground for White in her quest for victory.
• Better is 31.Rf5!
  • (Note how the move covers more real estate than the text)
  31...Qh6 32.Qf3 Qg6 33.Bd5 Kf8 34.Rd1 leaving little more for White to do in order to bag the game.

31...Rd1+?

• Following this move, White wins quickly.
• Black puts up more stubborn resistance after 31...Qf4 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Rg8+ Ke7 34.Bd5 , but the odds of survival are long.

32.Rxd1! Rxd1+

BLACK: Atousa Pourkashyan



WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 32... Rd8d1:R+

33.Kh2!!

• This quiet move is a stroke of brilliance.
• The text is stronger than taking the Rook: 33.Bxd1 Qxg6 34.Qc8+ Kh7 35.Qxb7 still wins for White, but not as quickly.

33...Qf4+

• 33...Qxg6 34.Qxg6 Nd8 35.Qh5 leaves White up a Queen to a Rook.

34.Qxf4 exf4 35.Rxc6 Rd7 36.Rc5 g6 37.Rd5 1-0

• White is a full piece to the good.
• Ms. Pourkashyan resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. 70th Italian National Championship, Siena

Siena
Photo by Ricardo Frantz in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Garcia Palermo - Caruana, Round 7

Fabiano Caruana
Photo by Ted Cross from flickr (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)


Carlos Garcia Palermo - Fabiano Caruana
70th Italian National Championship, Round 9
Siena, 2 December 2010

Indian Game: Torre Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 h6

• The usual continualtion is 3...c5 4.e3 Be7 5.Nbd2 b6 6.c3.

4.Bh4

• After a good system of development for both sides is 4...Qxf6 5.e4 d6 6.Nc3 Nd7 7.Qd2 c6 8.0-0-0 Be7.

4...d6 5.Nc3 g5

• 5...Nbd7 6.Qd2 Be7 7.0-0-0 a6 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.e3 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Be4 d5 12.Bd3 c5 13.Rdg1 Rc8 14.g4 Qa5 gives Black a huge advantage in space and freedom (Walsh-Bogotyrchuk, IT, Amsterdam, 1954)

6.Bg3 Nh5 7.e4

• 7.e3 Bg7 8.Ne4 Nd7 9.Nfd2 Nxg3 10.Nxg3 Nf6 11.h4 gxh4 12.Nh5 Nxh5 13.Qxh5 Qg5 14.Rxh4 Qxh5 15.Rxh5 Ke7 16.Be2 Bd7 17.0-0-0 Raf8 18.Bf3 draw (Tseitlin-Balashov, Op, Kusadasi, 1990)

7...Bg7 8.Bb5+ (N)

• 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bb5 a6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.Ng1 f5 13.exf5 exf5 14.f3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Qf6 16.Nge2 Rb8 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Foigel-Romankishin, Soviet Ch semifinal/Ukrainian Ch, Kherson. 1989)

8...c6 9.Ba4

• More flexible is 9.Be2 and after 9...g4 10.Nd2 Nxg3 11.hxg3 h5 12.Nb3 b5 13.Qd2 the game is equal.

9...Nxg3 10.hxg3 Nd7 11.Qd3?!

• 11.Bb3 g4 12.Ng1 Nf6 13.Nge2 b5 14.a3 Bd7 is equal.

11...a6!?

• 11...b5! 12.Bb3 g4 13.Nd2 Qb6 14.d5 Nc5 15.Qe2 h5 gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative.

12.Bb3 b5 13.a4

• If 13.d5?! then:
• 13...exd5! 14.exd5 c5 15.a4 c4 16.Qe3+ Qe7 gives Black the more aggressive position.
• Not as effective is 13...cxd5!? 14.exd5 Nc5 15.Qe3 g4 16.Nd4 Qg5. but Black still has a much better game.

13...Bb7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Ne2?

• White misses his last best chance in the game.
• If 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 then:
• If 16...Bxa8 17.Rd1 then:
• 17...Qa5 18.g4 Bb7 19.e5 b4 20.Ne4 Ba6 is equal.
• 17...Qc7?! 18.Qe2! Re8 19.Nb1 Bb7 20.c3 g4 gives Black only a small advantage in space.
• 16...Qxa8 17.Rd1 b4 18.Na4 g4 19.Nh4 c5 would give White a theoretical advantage in space if his center weren't about to cave under Black's pressure from the flanks.
• If 15.Rfd1 g4 then:
• If 16.Nd2 c5 17.dxc5 then:
• 17...Nxc5 18.Qe2 b4 19.Na2 a5 20.Qxg4 Qg5 gives Black the advantage in space that more than compensates for his pawn minus.
• 17...dxc5? 18.axb5 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Ne5 gives White an extra pawn
• 16.axb5?! gxf3 17.bxc6 Bxc6 18.Rxa6 Rxa6 19.Qxa6 Nb8 gives Black a minor piece for two pawns.

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana



WHITE: Carlos Garcia Palermo
Position after 15.Nc3e2

15...c5!

• Black opens the game for his pieces to pressure White center pawn duo.

16.axb5

• 16.Qe3 Nf6 17.Nd2 Ng4 18.Qf3 h5 19.c3 Qb6 gives Black the advantage in space and much more freedom.

16...axb5 17.Qxb5

• 17.Rxa8 Qxa8! 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Qxd6 Nxb3 20.cxb3 Bxe4 Black crushes White on the long diagonal.

17...Bxe4 18.Nd2

• If 18.Rxa8 Bxa8 then:
• 19.c3 Qc7 20.Ba4 Nf6 21.Nd2 Rb8 leaves the Queen no good options.
• 19.Ra1 Qc7 20.Ba4 Nb6 gives Black more freedom
• 19.Rd1 Qc7 20.Ba4 Nb6 gives Black far superior minor pieces.

BLACK: Fabiano Caruana



WHITE: Carlos Garcia Palermo
Position after 18.Nf3d2

18...Rb8!

• Black again drives a White piece away from a good post.

19.Qa6 Bg6

• If 19...Bf5 20.Nf3 d5 21.Qa2 g4 22.Nh4 Bh7 then:
• 23.dxc5 Nxc5 wins for Black.
• 23.c3 cxd4 24.cxd4 Bd3 wns.

20.Rfd1

• If 20.c3 then 20...d5 21.Qa2 Ra8 22.Ba4 Bd3 wins.

20...d5 21.c4

• If 21.Nf3 then Black wins after 21...c4 22.Ba4 Nb6 23.Bb5 Bxc2.

21...cxd4 22.cxd5 Nc5 23.Qa3

• White falls on his sword.
• If 23.Qa2 d3 24.Nc3 Nxb3 25.Nxb3 Qb6 then:
• 26.Nd2 Qxb2 27.Qxb2 Rxb2 28.Ra3 Rc2 29.Ncb1 exd5 leaves Black with the Bishops and two extra pawns.
• If 26.Nc1 then 26...Qxb2 27.Qxb2 Rxb2 28.Ra3 d2 29.N1e2 exd5 wins.

23...Nxb3 24.dxe6

• 24.Nxb3 Bc2 25.dxe6 Rxb3 26.e7 Rxa3 27.exd8Q Rxa1 gives Black a prohibitive material advantage.

24...Qd5 0-1

• Black is a piece to the good and White has nothing to show for it.
• Il segniore Garcia resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. 60th Greek National Championship, Vrahati

Temple of Apollo, Corinth
Photo by MM in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Kotronias - D. Mastrovasilis, Round 6

My staff and I agree that a perfect game of chess would not only be a draw, but a dull, gray draw at that. It would be a game where the players would seem to dance with each other more than play chess.

In this game, Vasilios and Dimitrios were at times doing a sirtaki, whichis a lot of fun to watch, but not when performed on a chessboard.

What is a sirtaki? Please click here to see the most famous sirtaki of all (dance music composed by Mikos Theodorakis).



Vasilios Kotronias
Photo by karpidis in flickr modified for Wikimedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vasilios Kotronias - Dimitrios Mastrovasilis
70th Greek National Championship, Round 6
Vrahati, 1 December 2010

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Berlin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 h5

• For moves up to here, see Istratescu-Breder, Masters 0910, Hastings, 2009.
• If 10...Be7 then:
• If 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 then:
• 13.Rd1 Be7 14.Kg2 h5 15.f3 Be6 16.Ne2 Rd8 17.Be3 a6 18.Nf4 g6 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Rd1+ Ke8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.f4 Rh7 23.Bf2 Rh8 reduces Black to passivity while White improves his position (Leko-Wang Yue, Amber Blind, Nice, 2009). Nevertheless, the game ended in a draw.
• 13.Kg2 h5 14.f3 Be6 15.Be3 Be7 16.Ne2 Rd8 is equal (Adams-Wang Yue, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 11.Bg5 Bxg5 12.Nxg5 h6 then:
• 13.Nf3 h5 14.Rad1 Ke7 15.Ng5 Be6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rd3 Rad8 18.Rfd1 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 h4 20.Ne4 gives White the active game and better pawn structure (Shirov-Alekseev, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 13.Nge4 b6 14.Rfd1 Ke7 15.Kh2 h5 16.Ne2 Re8 17.Nf4 Kf8 18.Nxh5 Rxe5 19.Nhg3 Be6 20.Rd2 draw (Anand-Kramnik, Rpd Trmt, León, 2002).

11.Rd1 Be7 12.Bg5

• If 12.Ne2 then:
• If 12...Be6 then:
• If 13.Nf4 Bc8 then:
• 14.b3 g5 15.Ne2 Rg8 16.a4 Be6 17.Nfd4 Rd8 18.Bb2 Bc8 is equal (Tiomofeev-Pashikian, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 14.Ne2 Be6 15.Nf4 Bc8 invites a draw by repeition.
• 13.Ned4 Rd8 14.Bf4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bc8 16.e6 Bxe6 17.Bxc7 Rd5 18.c4 is equal (Caruana-Kramnik, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 12...Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.Bf4 Be7 15.Rd3 Bf5 16.Rb3 Bc5 17.a4 is equal (Kotronias-Jakovenko, World ChT, Bursa, 2010).

12...Be6 13.Rd3 (N)

• White is first to throw the book out.
• 13.Rd2 Rd8 14.Rad1 Rxd2 15.Rxd2 h4 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 gives White a slight advantage in space (Anand-Karjakin, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• If 13.g3 Rd8 14.Rxd8+ Bxd8 15.Rd1 Be7 16.b3 f6 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bf4 Nd6 19.Kg2 Kf7 20.Ne2 a5 21.c4 draw (Grischuk-Hracek, Ol, Torini, 2006).

13...Rd8

• The game is equal.

14.Rad1

• 14.Rxd8+ Kxd8 15.Rd1+ Kc8 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 remains equal.

14...Rxd3 15.Rxd3 f6 16.Bf4 Bd8 17.exf6!?

• For the moment, the center should stay closed. White will not be able to keep control of it with his Rook.
• 17.Ne4 Bc4 18.Ra3 Bd5 19.Nfd2 Nd4 20.Kf1 remains equal.

17...gxf6 18.g3

• 18.Ne4 Kf7 19.b3 b6 20.c4 Re8 21.Nc3 remains equal.

18...Rh7!

• Black has a slight advantage inb space.

19.Kh2

• 19.Rd1 Rd7 20.Re1 Kf7 21.a3 gives Black a small advantage in space.

19...b6!?

• This give Black a slight weakness at c6, but not one that can be immediately exploited.
• If 19...c5 then:
• 20.b3 Rd7 21.Rd2 Rxd2 22.Bxd2 Kd7 gives Black the advantage in space.
• (20.Rd1 Rd7 21.Re1 Kf7 22.Kg2 Nd4 gives Black more space and more aggressively placed pieces.

20.Rd1 Rd7

BLACK: Dimitros Mastrovasilis



WHITE: Vasilios Kotronias
Position after 20... Rh7d7

21.Rxd7?!

• White would be better advised to preserve his Rook.
• If 21.Re1 Kf7 then:
• If 22.g4 then:
• 22...hxg4 23.hxg4 Nd4 24.Nxd4 Rxd4 25.Kg3 remains equal.
• 22...Nd4 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.Ne2 Rd5 25.Kg3 remains equal.
• 22.b3!? c5 23.Kg2 Nd4 24.Nxd4 cxd4 25.Ne4 Re7 gives Black the slight advantage with a 4-3 queenside majority.

21...Kxd7 22.g4 hxg4 23.hxg4 Ne7!?

• White's plan is to put the Knight at d4, forcing White to exchange and straightening out Black's queenside pawns.
• If 23...Nd6 24.Kg3 Bg8 25.Ne1 Bh7 gives Black a more active game thn the text.

24.Kg3 Nd5 25.Nd4 Bf7 26.a3?!

• The text does nothing except avoid repairing Black's double c-pawns and giving Black the opportunity to saddle White with queenside pawn weaknesses.
• Better is 26.Nxd5 when 26...cxd5 27.Nf5 Be6 28.Kf3 Bxf5 29.gxf5 c5 confines Black to a small advatage with a 4-3 queenside majority.

BLACK: Dimitros Mastrovasilis



WHITE: Vasilios Kotronias
Position after 26.a2a3

26...Nxc3!

• Black creates weaknesses in White's queenside.

27.bxc3 Bg6!?

• The only thing wrong with this move is that Black misses a better one.
• If 27...Ba2! 28.Nf3 Be7 29.Bc1 Bd6+ 30.Kh3 c5 then:
• 31.Nh4 Bb1 32.Nf5 Be5 Black must win a pawn.
• 31.Ne1 Bd5 32.f4 c4 33.g5 fxg5 34.fxg5 Ke6 White's passer is doomed.

28.Bc1

• 28.c4?! Be7! 29.Bc1 Bc5 30.Nf5 Bxf5 31.gxf5 Bd4 gives Black the more actikve Bishop.

28...Be7

• 28...c5 29.Nf5 Ke6 30.Ne3 Be7 31.c4 Bd6+ gives Black the advantage with two Bishops in an open center.

29.Nf5 Bxf5 30.gxf5 b5?!

• The pawn at b5 will not stop the advance of White's queenside by itself.
• A better use of Black's time is to first go after the foremost f-pawn30...Kd6 31.Kg4 Ke5 32.f3 a5! (now advance on the queenside, starting with the a-pawn) 33.Bf4+ Kd5 maintaining a strong advantage for Black.

31.Kg4!?

• Black was winning just a few moves back, but now he has but a small advantage with a slight more active Bishop.

31...Ke8

• If 31...Bc5 32.Kh5 then:
• 32...Bxf2 33.Kg6 Ke7 34.Bb2 a5 35.c4 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 32...a5?! 33.Kg6 Be7 34.c4! is equal.

32.Kf4 Kd7

• 32...Bc5 33.f3 Kd7 34.Ke4 a5 35.c4 a4 leaves Black a slight edge, if that.

BLACK: Dimitros Mastrovasilis



WHITE: Vasilios Kotronias
Position after 32...Ke8d7

33.Ke4!

• White has equalized. The sirtaki begins.
• 33.Kg4?! a5! 34.Bb2 Bc5 35.Kf3 a4 36.c4 bxc4 leaves Black a pawn up with pressure on White's hindmost f-pawn.

33...a5 34.c4 Bc5 35.Bb2

• 35.f3 a4 36.Kd3 Be7 37.Bb2 remains equal.

35...a4 36.f3 Bd6 37.Kd3 Ke7 38.c3 Be5

• 38...Bc5 39.f4 Kd6 40.Bc1 Bf2 41.Be3 bxc4+ 42.Ke4 remains equal.

39.Bc1 Bd6 40.Kd4 Kd7 41.c5 Bg3 42.Be3 Ke7

• 42...Be1 43.Kd3 Ke7 44.Bd4 Bg3 45.Ke3 remains equal.

43.Kd3

• 43.Bd2 Kd7 44.Ke3 Bh4 45.Ke4 Ke7 46.Kd4 Bf2+ 47.Be3 remains equal.

43...Be1 44.Bd4

• If 44.Bf4 Kd7 45.Kd4 Ke7 then:
• 46.Kd3 Kd7 47.Bd2 Bg3 remains equal.
• 46.Bxc7?? Bf2+! 47.Kd3 Bxc5 48.Kc2 Bxa3 wins for Black.

44...Kf7 45.Ke2 Bg3 46.Be3

• If 46.Ke3 Ke7 47.c4 Kf7 48.Ke4 Ke7 49.Kd3 remains equal.
• 48.cxb5!? cxb5! 49.Bc3 c6 gives Black a slight edge with his pawn majority in the a- and b-files.

46...Kg7 47.Bd2 Kh7 48.Ke3 Kh6

• 48...Kg7 49.Ke4 Bf2 50.Be3 Bxe3 51.Kxe3 remains equal and should be abandoned as drawn.

49.c4 b4?

• Black's first priority to the safety of his f-pawn, which the text neglects.
• 49...Kh5 50.Bc1 Kh4 51.cxb5 cxb5 52.c6 Bd6 53.Bb2 remains equal.

BLACK: Dimitros Mastrovasilis



WHITE: Vasilios Kotronias
Position after 49...b5b4

50.Kd3+!

• White wins.
• Also good is 50.axb4 Be5 51.Ke4+ Kh5 52.Bc1 Bg3 53.Bb2 when:
• If 53...Kg5 54.b5 Bf2 55.Bd4 then:
• 55...Bg3 56.Be3+ Kh5 57.Kd3 assures that Black's a-pawn will not queen and White wins.
50...Kg7 51.axb4 1-0
• 55...Bxd4 56.Kxd4 a3 57.Kc3 cxb5 58.cxb5 wins.
• 53...Bh4 54.b5 cxb5 55.cxb5 wins.
• 53...Be5 54.Bxe5 fxe5 55.Kxe5 wins.

• Although in three parts, White's winning plan is clear: first, the a-pawn must be eliminated; second, the queenside majority will be used to create a passed pawn; finally, the Black f-pawn is eliminated, giving White passers on both wings.
• If 51...Be5 52.Kc2 a3 53.Kb3 then:
• If 53...Kf7 54.Kxa3 (the a-pawn is eliminated) 54...Ke7 55.Kb3 Bd4 56.Kc2 Bg1 57.Kd3 Bf2 58.Be3 Be1 59.b5 (White's majority threatens to create a passer) and now:
• If 59...Kd7 60.Bd4 Bb4 61.Ke3 Ba3 62.Kf4 Bb4 63.Kg4 then:
If
• If 63...cxb5 64.cxb5 Ke7 65.Kh5 Kf7 66.c6 Bd6 67.Ba7 Ke8 68.Kg6 Be5 69.Bb8 Kd8 70.b6 then:
• 70...cxb6 71.Bxe5 fxe5 72.f6
• gives White two passed pawns and Black cannot stop them both.
• 70...Kc8 71.Bxc7 Bd4 72.Bd6 Bxb6 73.Kxf6 Black will be unable to stop all the pawns.
• If Black plays 63...Be1 then 64.Kh5 Bg3 65.Kg6 Bh4 66.Kf7 Bg5 67.Bxf6 wins.
• 59...cxb5 60.cxb5 Bg3 61.b6 cxb6 62.cxb6 Kd7 63.Kc4 Kc6 64.Bd4 Bh4 65.b7 Kxb7 66.Kd5 the f-pawn must fall, giving White a book win.
• Black simply loses a tempo trying 53...a2 54.Kxa2 Kf7 55.Kb3 Ke7 56.Bc3! Bf4 57.Bd4 Bg5 58.b5
• accomplishes the first stage of White's plan.
• Dimitrios resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update (Monday)

First Round Complete in Antakya

The first round of the FIDE Knock Out Tournament to name the world women's chess champion was completed earlier today with seven tie break matches of rapid games.

Six of the matches took only two game to determine a winner. Only the match between French IM Almira Skripchenko and Romanian WGM Cristina-Adela Foisor went to four games. That match ended with Mlle. Skripchenko winning the fourth game in 51 moves.

The biggest upsets in the first round were Russian WGM Baira Kovanova defeating her heavily favored compatriot, Natalia Pogonina, by a 2-0 score and local favorite Betul Cemre Yildiz taking down Swedish GM and reigning European women's champion Pia Cramling, one of the first women to receive what was once called the men's grandmaster title, by a score of 1½-½.


Second London Chess Classic Begins Wednesday

The second annual London Chess Classic will begin Wednesday with the main tournament featuring eight of the world's strongest grandmasters.

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand (India), world number one Magnus Carlsen (Norway), and defending tournament champion and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russsia) will cross swords against US grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura and British GMs Mickey Adams, David Howell, Luke McShane and one-time world champion challenger Nigel Short.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Update (Thursday)

Women's World Championship, Antalya



Almira Skripchenko
Photo by Velho in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The second round of the FIDE Knock Out to name the world women's chess champion finished today with rapid playoffs.

The major upset in Round 2 was the defeat of Russian GM Tatiana Kosintseva, the third-ranked player in the tournament, at the hands of Greek IM Yelena Dembo by a score of 2-0. Further upsets completed today were the elimination of former world women's champion Antoanetta Stefanova by WGM Huang Qian of China and of Georgian GM Nana Dzagnidze by former many-time French women's champion Almira Skripchenko.

The only Russian woman to survive the second round is the reigning champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk.

Round 3 starts tomorrow and runs through the rapid playoffs, if any are necessary, on Sunday.


London Chess Classic

The Second London Chess Classic began yesterday with three out of four games ending decisively.

Yesterday's winners were: Luke McShane, who upset world number one Magnus Carlsen; Mickey Adams, who handily checkmated David Howell; and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who beat former world champion challenger Nigel Short. Reigning world champion Vishy Anand and top rated American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura fought 74 moves to a draw.

Today's second round is still in progress.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Thursday's Update updated

London -- Today's Results

WHITE . . . . . . . Result . . . . . . BLACK . . . . Moves
Carlsen . . . . . . . 1-0. . . . . . . Adams . . . . . 49
Howell. . . . . . . . ½-½. . . . . . . Anand . . . . . 50
Kramnik . . . . . . . 0-1. . . . . . . Nakamura. . . . 54
Short . . . . . . . . 0-1. . . . . . . McShane . . . . 52

Luke McShane leads the tournament with a perfect score after two rounds. Hikaru Nakamura follows with a win and a draw.

World Women's Championship -- Tomorrow's Matches

Alexandra Kosteniuk - Ruan Lufei . . . . . . . . Koneru Humpy - Anna Zatonskih
Dronavalli Harika - Mariya Muzychuk. . . . . . . . . Anna Muzychuk - Ju Wenjun
Zhao Xue - Yelena Dembo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hou Yifan - Zhu Chen
Almira Skripchenko - Viktorija Cmilyte . . . . . . . .Katya Lahno - Huang Qian