JR Chess Report for August 6: Kramnik, Svidler win Dortmund as Leko chokes

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending August 6



Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Viewing Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report

Games from Current and Recent Events

Post 3: Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund
Post 4: 39th Annual Biel Chess Festival
Post 5: North Urals Cup, Krasnoturyinsk, Sverdlovsk


Image from Mark of Westminster

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Chess News: Dortmund, Biel, North Urals and more

Kramnik and Svidler share top honors in Dortmund as Leko chokes



Classical world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and his compatriot, Peter Svidler, share top honors at the annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund, Germany.



Vladimir Kramnik and Peter Svidler
(Wijk aan Zee, January 2004)
Photo: London Chess Center

In a game completed just a few minutes ago, Kramnik defeated Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko, who had held at least a share of the tournament lead since the opening round.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting
Dortmund
Unofficial Cross Table

--------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 T -(W)
1 Vladimir Kramnik. . - ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 4½ (2)
2 Peter Svidler . . . ½ - ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 4½ (2)
3 Boris Gelfand . . . ½ ½ - ½ 0 ½ 1 1 4. (2)
4 Peter Leko. . . . . 0 ½ ½ - ½ 1 1 ½ 4. (2)
5 Michael Adams . . . ½ ½ 1 ½ - ½ ½ ½ 4. (1)
6 Arkadij Naiditsch . ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ - ½ 1 3½ (0)
7 Levon Aronian . . . ½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ - ½ 2. (0)
8 Baadur Jobava . . . 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ - 1½ (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break
The official standings of this tournament will be made available later

Kramnik and Svidler each won two games and drew five without a loss. Kramnik did it the hard way: he drew his first five games and won in each of the last two rounds.

For Leko, it is a case of lightning striking twice. He also took an early lead in the Linares tournament in March, only to falter in the late rounds as Armenia's Levon Aronian took first.

Leko finished with 4 points, tied with Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand and Englishman Michael Adams. Leko and Gelfand each won two, lost one and drew four while Adams won one game drew his remaining six.

The early rounds of the tournament featured a remarkable number of draws, even for a category 19 event. At the end of four rounds, only three decisive games had been played and two of those in the first round.

The Dortmund Sparkassen is one of the jewels in what is unofficially the triple crown of chess nowadays; the other two major annual events that match Dortmund in prestige are the Wijk aan Zee tournament held in January and the Linares tournament in March.

A side event was held along with super-grandmaster tournament in which international masters Irina Krush of the United States and Elli Pähtz of Germany played a six game match. The first four games of the match ended in draws and Ms. Krush won the fifth game. The sixth game just ended in a draw.


Morozevich wins Biel Grandmaster Tournament

Alexander Morozevich of Russia, ranked ninth among the world's active international grandmasters, won the 39th annual Biel Chess Festival's grandmaster tournament with 7½ points out of ten rounds.

Morozevich won seven games, lost two -- both to 15-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen -- and drew his last round game with Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan.

Radjabov and Carlsen finished tied for second with 6 points apiece.



Match Point
Alexander Morozevich (left) in action against Yannick Pelletier
Moro defeated Pelletier in the ninth round to clinch the tournament championship a day early
(This is from their fifth round game)
Photo: official website of the 39th Biel Chess Festival

Morozevich clinched the tournament championship in the penultimate round by defeating Swiss grandmaster Yannick Pelletier to go a point and a half ahead of his nearest rival.

It is the third time Morozevich has competed in Biel and the third time he has taken top honors.

39th Biel Chess Festival
Grandmasters' Tournament
Unofficial Cross Table

---------------------- -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 T -(W)
1 Alexanser Morozevich -- 00 1½ 11 11 11 7½ (7)
2 Magnus Carlsen . . . 11 -- ½½ 00 1½ ½1 6. (4)
3 Teimour Radjabov . . 0½ ½½ -- 1½ 1½ 1½ 6. (3)
4 Andrei Volokitin . . 00 11 0½ -- ½0 ½½ 4. (2)
5 Yannick Pelletier. . 00 0½ 0½ ½1 -- ½1 4. (2)
6 Lazaro Bruzón. . . . 00 ½0 0½ ½½ ½0 -- 2½ (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break
These standings coincidently correspond to the official standings

Pia Cramling wins Biel Ladies' Event

Swedish grandmaster Pia Cramling won the ladies' tournament at the 39th annual Biel Chess Festival with 7 points out of a possible 10.



Pia Cramling
Photo: the official website of the 39th Biel Chess Festival

Polish international master Monika Bobrowska Socko finished second with 5½ points and Yelena Dembo of Greece was third with 5 points.

Ms. Cramling, who is 13 years senior to the next oldest participant in the tournament, gave her younger opponents some chess lessons by winning four and drawing six without a loss. She wrapped up first prize after round nine by drawing her game against Mrs. Socko while Ms. Dembo, the only other competitor who had a remote chance to catch Ms. Cramling going into the ninth round, lost to Turkey's Ekaterina Atalik.

Ms. Cramling is a legend in women's chess. She was among the first women to be granted the title of international grandmaster when FIDE opened the title to women in 1992. She is currently ranked number 4 among women players.

39th Biel Chess Festival
Ladies' Tournament
Unofficial Cross Table

-------------------- -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 T -(W)
1 Pia Cramling . . . -- 1½ ½1 ½½ 1½ ½1 7. (4)
2 Monika Socko . . . 0½ -- ½0 1½ 10 01 5½ (3)
3 Yelena Dembo . . . ½0 ½1 -- ½½ 11 ½½ 5. (3)
4 Anna Muzychuk. . . ½½ 0½ ½½ -- ½1 ½0 4½ (1)
5 Ekaterina Atalik . 0½ 00 01 ½0 -- 11 4. (3)
6 Almira Skripchenko ½0 01 ½½ ½1 00 -- 4. (2)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break
In the official standings, Mlle. Skripchenko finished fifth and Mrs. Atalik sixth


Katya Lahno wins North Urals Cup



Katya Lahno, the 16-year-old prodigy from Ukraine, won the annual North Urals Cup, an exceptionally strong women's tournament featuring three former women's world champions, in Krasnoturinsk, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia.

Ms. Lahno scored 7 points in nine rounds. She won five games and drew her other four.

Former world champion Zhu Chen, originally from China but who now plays for the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, finished second with 6 points; Ms. Zhu is married to Qatari grandmaster Mohammad al-Modiaki. Russia's Nadezhda Kosintseva finished third with 5½ points.

North Urals Cup
Krasnoturinsk
Unofficial Cross Table

---------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 T -(W)
.1 Katya Lahno. . . . .- ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 7. (5)
.2 Zhu Chen . . . . . .½ - 0 1 ½ ½ 1 1 1 ½ 6. (4)
.3 Nadezhda Kosintseva 0 1 - 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5½ (3)
.4 Lilit Mkrtchian. . .½ 0 0 - ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5. (3)
.5 Antoaneta Stefanova ½ ½ ½ 0 - ½ 0 1 1 1 5. (3)
.6 Maia Chiburdanidze .0 ½ ½ ½ ½ - 1 ½ ½ 1 5. (2)
.7 Viktorija Cmilyte. .0 0 ½ ½ 1 0 - ½ 1 ½ 4. (2)
.8 Hou Yifan. . . . . .½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ - ½ ½ 3. (0)
.9 Tatiana Kosintseva .0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 ½ - 1 2½ (1)
10 Svetlana Matveeva. .0 ½ 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ 0 - 2. (0)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break
These standings coincidently correspond to the official standings



Nijboer wins Dutch Open

Dutch grandmaster Friso Nijboer won the Dutch Open in Dieren Thursday with 7½ points in nine games.



Friso Nijboer
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Alon Greenfield of Israel finshed second with 7 points.

Nijboer's most important win came against the tournament's top seed, reigning Dutch champion Sergei Tiviakov, in round 6.

There were 86 participants in the event.

Harikrishna leads György Memorial in Hungary

Indian grandmaster Pentela Harikrishna leads the fourth annual Marx György Memorial Tournament in Paks, Hungary, with 5½ points after eight rounds.



Pentela Harikrishna
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

It appears Harikrishna will win the event as he is a point and a half ahead of his nearest rival with only two rounds remaining.

The event began four years ago as a rapid tournament, but switched to classical chess in its second year. It is used to pit Hungarian grandmasters who are rated in the 2600 range against equally strong from other nations.

The tournament is named for a Hungarian physicist who died in 2002.

British Championship begins tomorrow



The British National Championship begins tomorrow in Swansea, Wales.

Among the nearly 200 chess players who qualify for the Swiss system event are grandmasters Michael Adams, Nigel Short, Luke McShane, John Nunn and Jonathan Rowson.

Results and standings will be posted on the official website of the English Chess Federation.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Official Cross-Table from Dortmund

From ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

2. How to view diagrams on the JR Chess Report

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

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above site.

[nickgutierrez]

7. Ah, there we go. Having the font installed helps

:)

[Lithos]

8. I'm getting server errors when I try to access it

Oh well, I can fake it for the most part.

L-

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund

Peter Leko
Photo:World Chess Trophy

Peter Leko vs. Levon Aronian
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 5
Dortmund, August 2006

Black: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
$ + T + +%
$+ O + O %
$ O + + O%
$O OpLp+ %
$p+ +p+p+%
$+ P K + %
$ + + + +%
$+ +r+ + %
/(((((((()
White: Peter Leko
Position after White's 59th move

59. -- b5?

This weakens the Queenside Pawns and loses.

59. -- Rb8? also loses after 60. d6:

• 60. -- c6 61. d7 Rd8 62. c4! (Keeping the b-Pawn backward and preparing to break through and take command of the sixth rank) 62. -- Kf6 63. Rb1 Rxd7 64. Rxb6 Kg5 65. Rxc6 Kxg4 66. Rg6+ and more Black Pawns will fall


• 60. -- cxd6 61. Rd5+ Kf6 62. Rxd6+
• 62. -- Ke7 63. Re6+
• 63. -- Kf7 64. Kd3 b5 65. axb5 Rxb5 66. Ra6 Rb1 67. Rxa5 and White wins
• 63. -- Kf8 64. Rc6 Rd8 65. Rxb6 c4 66. e5 Rd3+ 67. Kf4 Rxc3 68. Rb8+ Ke7 69. Rg8 Kf7 70. Ra8 and White will have a winning edge after taking the a-Pawn
• 62. -- Kf7 63. c4 Rb7 64. e5 Ke7 65. Ke4 and the White King penetrates

Either of these lines, which are ver similar to each other, would have equalized:

• 59. -- Rd7 60. Rg1 Rd8 61. Rh1 Re8 62. Kf3 Rc8 63. Ke3 Re8 =
• 59. -- Rd6 60. Rh1 Rd8 61. Rh2 Rb8 62. Rh5 Rc8 63. Rh2 Re8 =

60. axb5 a4 61. Kd3 Kd6 62. Ra1 Ra8 63. Ra3 1-0
Black: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
$t+ + + +%
$+ O + O %
$ + L + O%
$+pOp+p+ %
$o+ +p+p+%
$R Pk+ + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
White: Peter Leko
Position after White's 63rd move

This is a good place to stop and take stock of the situation, since quite obviousky Mr. Aronian did.

The first question is: can either player win this game? In order for White to win, he would have to queen one of the Pawns now on the fifth rank. Since Black's kingside Pawns gauard against any unaided advance by White's Pawns and no aid seems forthcoming, it isn't going to be the f-Pawn. Since Balck's King is in the center, where he guards against Pawn advances there (physically blocking the d-Pawn), it isn't going to be the d-Pawn. That leaves the b-Pawn.

In order to advance to b-Pawn to the eighth rank, White must move his King to c7 (four moves, taking two Black Pawns in the process), and advance his b-Pawn from b5 to b8 (three moves). That is seven moves at least. If Black decides he can't win and plays for a draw, then the Black King may need to be diverted with e4e5+, which adds one more more to the calculations; otherwise, Black will move the King himself, since his winning plan would involve the Black King moving to the Kingside and paving the way for his own Pawns to advance.

The most direct winning plan for Black would involve taking White's g-Pawn with the King (three moves; Black will not take the e-Pawn in our initial calculations, since that would add a precious tempo); he will then advance his h-Pawn five spaces to the Queening point. Total eight moves.

Black eight moves against White's seven sounds okay, since it's Black's move. However, White may take one move to play Ral, in which case the Black King must escort the Pawn. It would take two moves to bring the King from g4 to g2, so while White adds only one move to his seven, Black must add two move to his eight. Another problem is that in the process of advancing his b-Pawn, White will gain a tempo on the Black Rook when the Pawn boes to b7; the Black Rook must move at least once, adding yet another move to Black's calculations.

Conclusion: If Black tried to win, he'd lose. Only White can win. If Black is to paly on, he must play for a draw.

Concrete variations (I thank Fritz for his invaluable assistance, as always) show the futility of Black playing to win. The observant reader will see some of the moves we have been discussing in these variations:

63. -- Ke5 64. Kc4 and now:

• 64. -- Kf4 65. Kxc5 Kxg4 66. Kc6 h5 67. Kxc7 h4 68. b6 h3 69. b7 Rh8 70. b8Q Rxb8 71. Kxb8 h2 72. Ra1
• 72. -- Kg3 73. d6 Kg2 74. d7 +-
• 72. -- a3 73. d6 a2 74. d7 +-
• 64. -- Kxe4? 65. Kxc5
• 65. -- Kf4 66. Kc6
• 66. -- Kxg4 67. Kxc7 h5 68. b6 h4 69. b7 +-
• 66. -- Ke5 67. c4 Kd4 68. Kb7 Ra5 69. b6 cxb6 70. d6 Kxc4 71. Rxa4+ Rxa4 72. d7 +-
• 65. -- Ke5 66. Kc6 Ra5 67. c4 Kd4 68. d6 cxd6 69. b6 Kxc4 70. b7 +-

The broad outlines of White's plan to win is essentially the same whether Black plays for a win or a draw. Black's, on the other hand. is radically different. He is unconcerned about advancing his own Pawns; his mission is to prevent White from advancing his, and in particular the b-Pawn.

The best way for Black to stop White's b-Pawn is to maintain the Pawn at c7. The move that suggests itself to this end is -- Ra7. Another desirable feature of Black's set up is the King at d6, which both stops the d-Pawn and protects the forward c-Pawn. Together, this prevents the penetration of the White King. However, Black sees that White has the resource e2e4. which we've brought up earlier. This will remove the Black King from his ideal post, allowing the White King to penetrate on c5.

Playing -- Re8 may stop the White King from penetrating. The problem with -- Re8 is that it allows Whit to activate his own Rook with Rxa4, from which it goes to a6 and commands the sixth rank. If Black's Rook is on the a- or b-files, the manuver Rxa4-a6-g6 would liquidate the Kingside Pawns and allow White to win by advancing the f- and g-Pawns. Otherwise, if the Rook were on the other side of King and c-Pawn, the White Rook at a6 would take the place of the White King in supporting the advance of the b-Pawn. Finally, there is the possibility that an active White Rook could force an exchange of Rooks, leaving White with a won King and Pawn ending. A active White Rook would have too many ways of beating Black for one of them not to work.

Finally, there is the idea of directly attacking the b-Pawn. There are two ways to do this: --Ra5 and --Rb8. The first, like -- Ra7, allows the King to penetrate on the c-file and excort the b-Pawn home while the other, which, like -- Re8 removes the Black Rook from the a-file, allows for the activation of the White Rook with the devastating effects already covered.

Here are some variations based on each of these ideas:

1. Fortify the c-Pawn:
   • 63. -- Ra7 64. Kc4 Ra5 65. e5+! Kxe5 66. Kxc5 Ra7 67. Kc6 Ra5 68. c4 Kd4
   • 69. c5 69. -- Kc4 70. d6 cxd6 71. cxd6
   • 71. -- Ra8 72. d7
   • 72. -- Kb4 73. Re3 Rd8 74. Re8 and the Pawn coronates
   • 72. -- Rh8 73. b6 Kb4 74. Re3 and Black cannot prevent coronation
   • 71. -- Kb4 72. d7 Ra8 73. Re3 Rd8 74. Re8 and the Pawn will promote
   • 69. d6 cxd6 70. b6 Kxc4 71. b7 Rc5+ 72. Kd7 Rb5 73. Rxa4+ Kb3 74. Ra7 Rb4 75. Kxd6 Kc4 76. Kc7 and it will cost Black the Rook to stop the Pawn from Queening
2. Attack the e-Pawn:
• 63. -- Re8 64. Rxa4
• 64. -- Re7 65. Ra6+ Kd7 66. b6 Ke8 67. Ra7 cxb6 68. Rxe7+ Kxe7 69. Kc4 Kd6 70. Kb5 c4 71. Kxb6 Ke5 72. Kc5 and if Black takes the e-Pawn, the d-Pawn marches forward unhindered
• 64. --Kd7 65. Ra6 Rb8 66. Rg6 Rxb5 67. Rxg7+ Kd6 68. Rg6+ Kd7 69. Rxh6 and instead of winning with his Queenside Pawns, White wins on the Kingside
3. Attack the b-Pawn horizontally:
• 63. -- Ra5 64. Kc4 Ra7 65. e5+ Kxe5 66. Kxc5 Ra5 67. c4 Ra7 68. Kc6 Kd4 69. c5 Kc4 70. d6 cxd6 71. cxd6 Kb4 72. d7 and the Rook will be the price of stopping the Pawn
4. Attack the b-Pawn vertically:
• 63. -- Rb8 64. Rxa4 Rxb5 65. Ra6+
• 65. -- Kd7 66. Rg6 and Black's Kingside Pawns fall
• 65. --Ke7 66. Rc6 Rb7 67. e5 Kd8 68. Rg6 and the Kingside Pawns fall while the center Pawns advance

Since Black can neither win nor draw, Aronian resigns.





Michael Adams
Photos:Rochade Kuppenheim (Germany)

Peter Leko vs. Michael Adams
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 3
Dortmund, August 2006

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nd5 8. Bxb4 Ndxb4 9. a3 b5 10. Qxb5 Nc2+ 11. Kd2 Bd7 12. Kxc2 Nxd4+ 13. Nxd4 Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Rb8 15. Rd1

White has three minor pieces in exchange for the Queen.

Rizzo-Oates (email, October 2001) continued 15. Bc6+ Kf8 16. Rd1 Qf6 and resmebles this game. That game was won by Black. My partner, Fritz, says the position in the present game slightly favors Black. I don't believe my silicon friend; the position is level.

15. -- Qg5 16. Bc6+ Kf8 17. N1c3 Qc5

Fritz says Black is actually winning here. Again, I don't believe him. Black may be slightly better in terms of King safety, but that's all.
Black: Peter Leko
!""""""""#
$ T + L T%
$O O +oOo%
$ +b+o+ +%
$+nW + + %
$ +o+ + +%
$P N + P %
$ Pk+pP P%
$R +r+ + %
/(((((((()
White: Michael Adams
Position after Black's 17th move
18. Bf3!

This move is best because it protects the e-Pawn, while the alternatives do not.

18. Nd4? is bad because of 18. -- e5 and then:

• 19. Nf3 Qxc6 20. Nxe5 Qb7 21. Nd7+ Ke7 22. Nxb8 Rxb8 23. Rab1 and White's position is cramped into passivity
• 19. Ncb5 a6 20. Bg2 axb5 21. Nc6 Re8 22. e3 e4 and White has a clear advantage in space

18. Bh1? is no better:18. -- g6 19. a4 Qxf2 20. Rd7 Kg7 21.Nxc7 Qb6 and Black threatens to invade on the b-file or on the a7g1 diagonal; for example, 22. -- Qe3 and 23. -- Rb3

18. Be4 is better the other two, but not as good as the text: if now 18. -- Qb6 then:

• 19. Rab1 Qxf2 20. Rd7
• 20. -- g6 21. Nxc7
• 21. -- Rb3 22. Bc6 Qf5+ 23. Kc1 Qf2 24. Bb5 Qxh2 25. Kc2 Rxc3+ 26. Kxc3 with equality
• 21. -- Rb6 22. Bf3 Rb8 23. N7b5 Kg7 24. Rbd1 Qxh2 and a level position
• 20. -- Qxh2? is bad for Black: 21. Rf1 Qh5 22. g4 Qxg4 23. Rdxf7+ Kg8 24. Nd4 and White has serious mating threats
• 19. Ra2?! Qxf2 20. g4 g6 21. Nxc7 Qxh2 22. Rd7 Qe5 and Black's pieces are better placed

18. -- g6

Black has a little more space and superior King safety. Other variations promise both sides a satisfactory game, perhaps too satisfactory for both:

• 18. -- Qb6 19. Rab1 Qxf2 20. Rd7
  • 20. -- h6 21. Rxc7 a6 22. Nd6 f5
  • 20. -- Qxh2 21. Rbd1 g6 22. Rxc7 Qxg3 23. Rdd7 Kg7 24. Rxf7+ Kh6 25. Rcd7 Rbd8 26. Rxh7+ Rxh7 27. Rxd8
• 18. -- e5 19. Rd7 Qxf2 20. Rad1 g6 21. Rxc7 Kg7 22. Rdd7 Rhf8

19. Nd4 Kg7 20. Rd2 Rhd8

20. -- Qb6?! could buy Black a lot of trouble after 21. Na4 Qa6 22. Nc3 Rb6 23. Bg2 c5 24. Nf3 Rhb8.

21. Rad1 Qb6 22. Na4 Qa5 23. Nc3 Qb6

23. -- Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Qb6 25. Rxc4 Qxb2+ 26. Kd3 is level.

24. Na4 Qa5 25. Nc3 Qb6 26. ½-½

The game may take two distinct courses here:

• 25. -- Qb6 26. Na4 Qa5 27. Nc3 Qb6 28. Na4 Qa5 29. Nc3 Qb6 and a draw by repetition; or
• 25. -- Rd6 26. h3 Rdb6 27. Rb1 Qa6 28. Bg2 c5 29. Nf3 Qb7 30. Kc1 Rb3 31. Rc2 and Black would have the better of it, but no definite win in sight.

Out of respect for Leko's unfathomable defensive skills, Adams offered a draw; out of respect for Adams' attacking prowess, Leko accepted.






Arkadij Naiditsch and Vkadimir Kramnik
Photo:Young Experts (Russian language)

Vladimir Kramnik vs. Arkadij Naiditsch
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 3
Dortmund, August 2006

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Nc6

5. -- Be7 is the older line of the Catalan:

• 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4
• 6. Qa4+ Bd7 7. Qxc4 0-0 8. 0-0

6. Qa4 Nd7 7. Qxc4 Nb6 8. Qb5

Other lines comfortable for both sides include:

• 8. Qc2 Bb4+ 9. Nc3 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. 0-0 Qc4 12. Rd1 c6 13. a3 Bxc3 14. bxc3
• 8. Qd3 Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Bd2 Bf6 11. Bc3 Qe7 12. Nbd2 Nb4 13. Bxb4 Qxb4
• 8. Qb3 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. 0-0 Qc4 11. Qf3 Bd6 12. b3 Qc2 13. Na3 Qc5 14. Bb2

8. -- Bd7 9. Qb3 Na5 10. Qd3 c5!?

One of the drawbacks for White in adopting the Catalan is lagging development. The observant student may notice that of White's first ten moves, five have been made with the Queen; the queenside pieces are still at home.

In spite of that, White currently enjoys a small advantage in cental space and what pieces he has developed are better developed that Black's.

Other lines don't offer either player better than the text:

• 10. -- Nac4 11. Nfd2 Nd6 12. Nc3 Be7 13. 0-0 0-0 14. e4 Bc6 15. Re1


• 10. -- Be7 11. e4 0-0 12. 0-0 c5 13. Be3 cxd4 14. Bxd4 Nc6 15. Bc3

11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Qc3 Rc8

12. -- Nd5? is bad for Black: if then 13. Qxg7:

• 13. -- Qf6 14. Qxf6 Nxf6 15. Bf4
• 15. -- Ne4 16. 0-0
• 16. -- Bb5 17. Ne5 Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 and White's control of the center gives him a clear edge
• 16. -- Bc6 17. Ne5 Nxf2 18. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 and a position that closely resembles the main line
• 15. -- Rc8 16. Nbd2 Nd5 17. Be5 and White has more freedom and better control of the center
• 13. -- Rf8 14. Qxh7 Qb6 15. Rf1 Rc8 16. Nc3 and White is up by two Pawns

13. Qxg7 Bf8 14. Qg5 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Bg7 16. Nbd2 h6

If 16. -- Bxb2 then:

• 17. Rd1 Nac4
  • 18. Ne4 Rg8 19. Nf6+ Bxf6 20. Bxf6 =
  • 18. Nxc4 Nxc4 19. Nd2 Nxd2 20. Kxd2 =+
• 17. Rb1 Bg7 18. Ne4 Nac4 19. 0-0 Rg8 +=

17. Bf4 Bxb2 18. Rb1 Nd5 19. Bd6 Bg7

If 19. -- Rc2 20. Kd1 Ba4 21. Nb3 (the only move to avoid immediate loss) then:

• 21. -- Rc6 22. Rxb2 Rxd6 23. Nfd2 and Black has a slight initiative
• 21. -- Bxb3 22. axb3 Rc6 23. Rxb2 Rxd6 and Black's pieces are better placed

20. Ne5 Nc3 21. Rc1 Nxa2 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. 0-0 Nc3 24. Ra1 Nb5 25. Rxa5 Nxd6 26. Nec4

If 26. Ndc4 Bxe5 27. Nxe5 then:

• 27. -- f6 28. Ng4 f5 29. Ne5 a6
  • 30. f4 b6 31. Ra2 Rg8 32. Kf2 Ke7 and the position is about equal
  • 30. Ra4?! Rh7 31. Rd4 Ke7 and once Black begins advancing his Queenside Pawns, White will have a great deal about which to worry
• 27. -- a6 28. Rc5 Kd8 29. h4 Rg8 and here, too, Black's outside Pawns look like a great threat, even as a potential threat

27. -- Ke7 27. Rxa7 Bd4 28. Ra8 Nxc4

28. -- b5 29. Nxd6 Kxd6 yields a level game in these variations:

• 30. g4 Rd8
  • 31. h4 b4 32. Rb8 Bc3 33. Nc4+
    • 33. -- Kc5 34. Nb6 Rd1+
    • 33. -- Kc7 34. Ra8 Rd1+
  • 31. Ne4+ Kc7 32. e3 Bh8 33. Ra7+ Kb6 34. Rxf7 b4 35. f4
• 30. h4 30. -- f5 31. Nb3 Bc3 32. Rb8 b4

29. Nxc4 b5 30. e3 Bd7 31. exd4

31. Rxh8 Bxh8 32. Na5 b4 33. f4 Ba4 give Black an advantage with the outside passer and the two Bishops on a open board, but he is a long way from cashing it in for a victory.

31. -- Rxa8 32. Bxa8 bxc4 33. Kf1

Bad would be 33. Be4? and then::

• 33. -- f5! 34. Bc2 Kd6 35. f4 Kd5 and Black will escort the Pawn up
• 33. -- Kd6 returns the favor and allows White to re-establish the equalibrium: 34. Kf1 Bc6 35. f3 f5 36. Bxc6 Kxc6 37. Ke2 Kd5 38. Ke3 c3 39. Kd3 c2 40. Kxc2 Kxd4 and a draw just as in the actual game

33. -- Kd6 34. Ke2

The reader will notice that as long as White's Bishop remains on the long diagonal in the Black Queenside quadrant, the Black King cannot advance to attack the White d-Pawn. One can bet that Herr Naiditsch noticed, hence his next move
Black: Arkadij Naiditsch
!""""""""#
$b+ + + +%
$+ +v+o+ %
$ + Lo+ O%
$+ + + + %
$ +oP + +%
$+ + + P %
$ + +kP P%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after White's 34th move

34. -- Bc6!

And that takes care of that.

35. Bxc6 Kxc6 36. Kd2 Kd5 37. Kc3 Ke4 38. Kxc4 Kf3 39. d5

39. Kc5 Kxf2 40. Kd6 Kg2 41. Ke7 Kxh2 42. Kxf7 Kxg3 43. Kxe6 h5 44. d5 is also a draw.

The players could have shook hands and gone home here. There is nothing left but to mop up each other remaining Pawns, which cannot be prevented.

39. -- exd5+ 40. Kxd5 Kxf2 41. Ke5 Kg2 42. Kf6 Kxh2 43. Kxf7 Kxg3 44. Kg6 ½-½

[Jack Rabbit]

4. 39th annual Biel Chess Festival, Grandmasters' and Ladies' Tournaments

Alexander Morozevich
Photo ChessBase.de (Germany)

Alexander Morozevich vs. Yannick Pelletier
International Grandmasters' Tournament, Round 9
Biel, August 2006

French Open Game: Root Variation (French Defense/Rubinstein Variation)

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bg5

If 7. Nf3 c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 then:

• 9. Qe2 Qc7 10. Bd2 0-0 11. 0-0-0 b6 12. Ne5 is satisfactory for both sides
• 9. Bg5 h6 gives White the usual choice of exchanging or retreating, both of which are satisfactory; best is probably the zwischenschach 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bd7 Bxf6

7. -- c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nf3

The equalibrium is established with 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Qxd7 11. Bxf6 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 gxf6 13. Ne2 Rg8 14. Ng3.

9. -- h6 10. Bh4 0-0 11. Qd2 b6 12. 0-0-0 Bb7 13. Rhe1 Be7 14. Ne5 Nd5

14. -- Qd5? is a terrible mistake:

• 15. c4?! does not take any advantage of Black's error: 15. -- Rac8 16. Kb1 Qa5 17. Qxa5 bxa5
• 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Ng4 Kg7 20. Ne3 Bd6 21. h3 with equality
• 18. f3 Rc7 19. b3 Rfc8 20. Bf2 Kf8 and White, with a superior pawn structure, has a slight plus


• 15. Kb1
• 15. -- Rfd8
• 16. Qe2 Qc5
• 17. f4?! is inferior in that it gives Black a narrow path out: 17. -- Rd6 18. g4
• 18. -- Rad8 19. g5 hxg5 20. fxg5
• 20. -- Ne4 21. g6 Bxh4
• 22. gxf7+ Kf8 with equaliy;
• 22. Qh5? fxg6 23. Qxh4 Qxe5 24. Rg1 Nc5 and Black is a Pawn up and threatens to win another starting with 25. -- Nxd3
• 20. -- Nd5? sets things straight again for White: 21. Qh5 g6 22. Nxg6 fxg6 23. Qxg6+ Kf8 24. Rf1+ and White has a powerful mating attack
• 18. -- Qb4? 19. c3 Qa5 20. Nc4 and White controls open line leading to the Black King
• 17. g4! is a winner: 17. -- Nd5 18. Nxf7 Nf4 19. Qd2 Rxd3 20. cxd3 Bxh4 21. Qxf4 Qf8 22. Nxh6+ gxh6 23. Qxf8+ Kxf8 24. Rxe6 and White has a strong position as well as a Rook and two Pawns against two Bishops
• 16. g4
• 16. -- Nxg4 17. Bxe7 Nxe5 18. Bxd8 Nf3 19. Qf4 Nxe1 20. Bh7+ Kxh7 21. Rxd5 exd5 22. Qxf7 and White has a tremendous attack that will net material
• 16. -- Ne4 17. Qf4 Bf6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Rxe4 fxe5 20. Rxe5 which is followed by an exchange of Queens that leaves White a Pawn to the good
• 15. -- Qxg2 loses in short order to 16. Rg1! Ne4 17. Bxe4 Qxe4 18. Qxh6 Qh7 19. Qxh7+ Kxh7 20. Bxe7 and White has won a piece

15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. a3!?

If 16. f4 then the game is level in these variations:

• 16. -- Nb4 17. Bc4
• 17. -- Rac8 18. Kb1 Rfd8
• 19. Qe2 Bd5 20. Bxd5 Nxd5 21. Qe4 Qb4
• 19. Qf2 Bd5 20. Bxd5 Nxd5 21. Rd2 Qb4 22. Nd3 Qb5
• 17. -- Rfd8 18. Qe2 Rac8 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. g3
• 16. -- Rac8 17. f5 Rfd8 18. fxe6 Qxe6 19. Bc4 Qd6 20. Bb3

16. -- Rad8

If 16. -- Rfd8 17. f4 Rac8 then these variations yield a level game:

• 18. f5
• 18. -- Rc5 19. fxe6 Qxe6 20. Bc4 Qd6 21. Bb3 and White may have a little better piece placement, but no win
• 18. -- Nc7 19. h3 Qh4 20. g4 exf5 21. Qf4 g6 22. Qf1 =
• 18. g4 Qh4 19. Rg1 a6 20. Rde1 b5 21. f5 exf5 22. Bxf5 Ne7 23. Bd7 Rc7 =+

17. f4 Nf6 18. c4 Qc7 19. b4 Nd7 20. Kb2 Nxe5

These variations show the game is essentially equal:

• 20. -- Kh8 21. Qe2 Nxe5 22. fxe5 Rd4 and Black has the initiative, but White has sufficient defensive resources
• 20. -- Nf6 21. g4 Be4
• 22. Re3 a5 23. b5 Rd4
• 24. h4 Bxd3 25. Rxd3 Rxc4 26. Nxc4 27, g5 and an equal game
• 24. Qe2?! is a dubious move that gives White some trouble: 24. -- Bxd3 25. Rexd3 Rxf4 and now:
• 26. Re3 Rd8 and Black's active pieces give him a clear advantage
• 26. Rd4 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Rd8 and Black's piece activity shows in this variation, too
• 22. Qe3 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 Rxd3 24. Qxd3 Rd8 25. Qf3 with an equal game

21. fxe5 Kh8?!

Two different move yield an equal game:

21. -- a6 22. Qe2 b5 then:
• 23. c5 Ra8
• 4. Bc2 a5
• 25. Rd6 axb4 26. axb4 Bd5
• 25. Qxb5 axb4 26. axb4 Rfb8 27. Qd3 Bd5
• 24. g4 a5 25. Bc2 Rfc8 26. g5 hxg5 27. Qh5
• 23. cxb5 axb5 24. g4 Rc8 25. Rc1 Qb6 26. Bc2 Qd4+
• 21. -- a5 22. b5 Rfe8 23. Re2 Kh8 24. Qe3 Qc5 25. Qxc5 bxc5 26. Kc3 Rd4

22. Qe3 Rd7

22. -- Ba6 23. Qe4 Rxd3 24. Qxd3 Bxc4 25. Qd6 Rc8 26. Qxc7 Rxc7 27. Rd6 and White, with a Rook against a Bishop and a Pawn, is slioghtly better.

23. g4 Rfd8 24. g5 hxg5?

This move allow White to open the h-file and use it as an avenue to attack the Black King.

Correct is 24. -- h5 and then:

• 25. g6 fxg6 26. Qg3
• 26. -- g5? would lose as well: 27. Re3
• 27. -- Qc6 28. Rd2
• 28. -- Rd4 29. Qxg5 Qe8 30. Bg6 Rxd2+ 31. Kc3 Rxh2 32. Bxe8 Rxe8 33. Qf4 and White is threatening 34. Qf7
• 28. -- g4 29. Qh4 g6 30. Qf6+ and the Queen will eat a Pawn or two
• 27. -- Rxd3 28. Rexd3 Rxd3 29. Rxd3 Qxc4 30. Rd8+ Kh7 31. Qxg5 and White threatens 32. Rd7, winning immediately
• 26. -- Qc6!
• 27. Rg1
• 27. -- Qc7 28. Qxg6 Qxe5+ 29. Kb3 Rxd3+ 30. Rxd3 Rxd3+ 31. Qxd3
• 31. -- b5 32. Qd8+ Kh7 33. Qg5 bxc4+ 34. Kxc4 Bd5+ 35. Kb5 and a level game
• 31. -- a6? 32. Qd8+ Kh7 33. Qg5 Qxg5 34. Rxg5 Kh6 35. Re5 and White wins
• 27. -- Rxd3? 28. Rxd3 Rxd3 29. Qxd3 Qe4 30. Qxe4 Bxe4 31. Rd1 and White wins
• 27. Bc2 Qg2 28. Qxg2 Bxg2 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 30. Bxg6 h4 31. Kc3 h3 with a level game
• 25. Qe2 g6 26. Qf1 a5 27. b5 Rd4 28. Bc2 Rxd1 29. Rxd1 Rxd1 30. Qf6+ Kg8 31. Bxd1 and Black is better

25. Qh3+ Kg8 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Re3

If 27. Rg1? Qxe5+ 28. Kc2 Bf3 then:

• 29. Rde1 Qf4
• 30. Kb1 Rxd3 -+
• 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qxg7 Rxd3 -+
• 29. Rd2 Be4 30. Qxe4 Qxe4 31. Bxe4 Rxd2+ -+

27. -- g4 28. Qh8+ Ke7 29. Qxg7 Bf3
Black: Yannick Pelletier
!""""""""#
$ + T + +%
$O WtLoQ %
$ O +o+ +%
$+ + P + %
$ Pp+ +o+%
$P +vRv+ %
$ K + + P%
$+ +r+ + %
/(((((((()
White: Alexander Morozevich
Position after Black's 29th move

30. Bg6!

Other moves lead to an equal position, for example: 30. Qf6+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Ke8 32. Qh8+ Ke7.

30. -- Rf8 31. Rxd7+ Qxd7 32. Rd3 Qc8 33. Qf6+ Ke8 34. Rd6 1-0

White has launched an decisvie mating attack on the Black King. If 34. Rd6 fxg6 35. Rxe6+ then:

• 35. -- Qxe6 36. Qxe6+ and more Black Pawns fall
• 35. -- Kd7 36. Qe7 is checkmate

M. Pelletier regigns.





Pia Cramling (right) and Yelana Dembo
during their eighth round game in Biel
Photo: Official website of the 39th Biel Chess Festival

Pia Cramling vs. Yelena Dembo
International Ladies' Tournament, Round 8
Biel, August 2006

London Game: King's Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 0-0 5. Be2 d6 6. h3

Among the other lines that offer a satisfactory game to both players are:

• 6. 0-0 Bg4 7. Nc3 Nbd7 8. h3
• 8. -- Bf5 9. Nh4 e5 10. Bg5
• 10. -- c6 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. f4 Ned7
• 10. -- h6 11. Nxf5 gxf5 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. dxe5 Nxe5
• 8. -- Bh5!?
• 9. e4 e5 10. dxe5 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 dxe5
• 9. g4?! Nxg4 10. hxg4 Bxg4
• 8. -- Bxf3 9. Bxf3 c6 10. Qd3 e5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 13. Qc4
• 6. c4 c5 7. Nc3 cxd4 8. exd4 d5 9. Nb5 Na6 10. 0-0 Bd7
• 6. Nbd2 Bf5 7. c4
• 7. -- c6 8. Qb3 b6 9. Rd1 a6 10. 0-0 Nbd7 11. Nh4 Be6 12. e4
• 7. -- c5 8. Qb3 b6 9. 0-0 Nc6 10. Bg5 a6 11. Rad1 h6

6. -- c5 7. c3 Nbd7 8. 0-0 b6 9. Nbd2

If 9. Qb3 Bb7 10. Nbd2 then the equalibrium is established:

• 10. -- a6 11. Rad1 d5 12. dxc5 Nxc5 13. Qa3 Nfd7 14. Bg3 e5
• 10. -- e5 11. Bg3 Qe7 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Rad1 Rad8
• 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Bh4
• 14. Nc4?! Nxf3+ 15. Bxf3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 d5 17. Na3
• 10. -- Rc8 11. Rad1 a6 12. Rfe1 Qc7 13. c4 e5 =+

9. -- Bb7 10. a4

If 10. Bd3 then:

• if 10. -- a6?! then:
• 11. Qc2 Rc8
• White has a strong position after 12. Bg3 e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Re8 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Be4
• 12. Bg5 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Be4 with an equal game
• 11. Qe2 11. -- b5 12. c4 bxc4 13. Nxc4 Rb8 14. Rac1 Nd5 15. Bg3 and the game is level
• if 10. -- Rc8 then:
• 11. Bg5 11. -- h6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Qe2 d5 14. Rad1 cxd4 15. exd4 with equality
• 11. Qe2 Re8 12. Bg3 e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. e4 Qc7 15. Rad1 Nh5 and Black has a slight plus with more active pieces

10. -- a6 11. Qb1

If 11. Bg3 then:

• 11. -- Re8
• 12. c4
• 12. -- Rc8 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. Bh2 Qc7 15. b3 Nhf6 16. d5 with equality
• 12. -- d5 13. b3 Rc8 14. Rc1 e6 15. Re1 with an equal game
• 12. b4 e5 13. Rc1 exd4 14. exd4 Nf8 15. Re1 Ne6 16. Nc4 Ne4 and Black has a slight edge in terms of piece activity
• 11. --Rc8 12. Rc1 d5 13. b4 cxd4 14. cxd4 Rxc1 15. Qxc1 Qa8 is level

11. -- Qc7 12. Bh2 Rad8 13. Rd1

If 13. Bd3 then 13. -- e5 14. e4 Rfe8 15. Rc1 cxd4 16. cxd4 Qb8 17. Nc4 Bh6 18. Rd1 Qc7 is equal.

13. -- Qb8 14. e4 e5

If 14. -- cxd4 15. cxd4 Rc8 16. b4 then:

• 16. -- Rc3? 17. e5
• 17. -- Ne8 18. b5 axb5 19. axb5 dxe5 20. Qb2 and the equalibrium is maintained
• 17. -- dxe5? is bad: 18. dxe5 Nd5 19. Ne4 and White has a strong initiative
• 16. -- Qa8 17. Bd3 e5 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Nxe5 and White has a better center

15. d5 Nh5 16. Nc4 Nf4 17. Bf1

If 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Qc1 Bh6 19. b4 f5 20. exf5 Rxf5 21. bxc5 then:

• 21. -- dxc5 22. d6 Rf6 23. Qd2 Re6 24. Re1 Red8 and Black is slightly better for her control of the e-file
• 21. -- bxc5? 22. Rb1 Qc7 23. Rxb7 Qxb7 24. Nxd6 and White wins the exchange
• 21. -- Nxc5 22. Qb2 Rxd5 23. Rdb1 Bg7 24. Nxb6 Rf5 and a level position

17. -- Qc7 18. Ne3 Bc8 19. Ra2

19. b4 Bb7 20. b5 axb5 21. axb5 Ra8 22. Qc2 Rfe8 23. c4 h6 is level.

19. -- Nb8 20. b4 c4?

From this point on, neither Fritz nor I find any satisfatory continuations for Black that she initiates or could initiate.

Better are:

• 20. -- f5: and if 21. Bd3 Nxd3 then:
  • 22. Qxd3 22. -- fxe4 23. Qxe4 Nd7 24. a5 b5 25. Qh4 Nf6 =
  • 22. Rxd3? fxe4 -+
• 20. -- cxb4
• 21. cxb4 f5 22. Rc1
• 22. -- Qf7 23. g3 fxe4
• 24. Ng5 Qe7 25. h4 +=
• 24. Qxe4 Nh5 25. Ng5 Qe7 26. Nf3 Qf6 27. Ne1 =
• 22. -- Qb7 23. Rac2 fxe4 24. Nd2 Bf5 25. Rc7 Qa8 26. Nxe4 Bxe4 27. Qxe4 Rd7 28. Rxd7 Nxd7 29. Qc4 +/-

21. Nxc4 f5 22. Bxf4 exf4 23. e5 Bxe5

If 23. -- dxe5 24. d6 then:

• 24. -- Qb7 25. Ncxe5 Bxe5
• 26. Bc4+ Kg7 27. Nxe5
• 27. -- Qe4 28. Qxe4 fxe4 29. Re2 and White's advanced d-Pawn gives her a clear edge
• 27. -- Nd7 28. Bd5 Qb8 29. Nc6 Qxd6 30. Nxd8 Rxd8 31. Re2 and Black control of the e-file gives her more tangible threats
• 26. Qb3+ Kg7 27. Nxe5 Rf6 28. Rad2 and the passed Pawn and superior piece activity give White a winning advantage
• 24. -- Qf7 25. Nxb6 h6 26. Nxc8 Rxc8 27. c4 e4 28. Nd4 Rfd8 29. c5 and White's central Pawns are ready to roll over Black

24. Nfxe5 dxe5 25. d6 Qg7

If 25. -- Qc6 26. Nxe5 Qxc3 27. Bc4+ then a pin motif emerges in these variations:

• 27. -- Kg7 28. Re2
• 28. -- Nd7 29. Rd3 Qxe5 30. Rxe5 Nxe5 31. Qb2 and White's passed Pawn and control should convert the position to a win
• 28. -- Rfe8 29. Rd3 Qxe5 30. Rxe5 Rxe5 31. Qb2 and this looks like the next column up, except that the Rook is pinned instead of the Knight; in any case, White should win
• 27. -- Kh8 28. Re2 Rde8 29. Rd3 Qxe5 30. Rxe5 Rxe5 31. Qb2 and here, too, it is a Rook that is pinned giving White a winning edge

26. Nxb6 Be6 27. c4 Nc6 28. Rad2 g5

If 28. -- e4 29. b5 axb5 30. axb5 then White's three connected passed Pawns will see her home in these variations:

• 30. -- Ne5 31. c5 e3 32. Re2
• 32. -- Nc4 33. Nxc4 Bxc4 34. Rc2
• 32. -- Rb8 33. Qb4 g5 34. fxe3 f3 35. Rf2 g4 36. Qf4
• 30. -- e3 31. fxe3 fxe3 32. Rd3 Ne5 33. Rxe3 f4 34. Ra3

29. c5 g4

If 29. -- f3 then the Queenside Pawns assure White of victory:

• 30. Bxa6 30. -- g4 31. g3
• 31. -- gxh3 32. Kh2
• 32. -- Qg4 33. Bb5 Nd4 34. Bc4 +-
• 32. -- e4 33. Re1 Nd4 34. Qb2
• 31. -- Rf7 32. Bf1 Ra7 33. a5 e4 34. hxg4 Qxg4 35. Re1
• 30. gxf3 Nd4 31. Rd3 Qb7 32. Bg2 Ne2+ 33. Kh1 Nf4 34. Re3 Nxg2 35. Kxg2

30. hxg4 fxg4 31. Qe4

Black: Yelena Dembo
!""""""""#
$ + T Tl+%
$+ + + Wo%
$oNmPv+ +%
$+ P O + %
$pP +qOo+%
$+ + + + %
$ + R Pp+%
$+ +r+bK %
/(((((((()
White: Pia Cramling
Position after White's 31st move

31. -- g3!

Black is losing, but she's going down fighting. This is her best shot. The Knight is a desparado. Rather than just lose it (or resign), she sacrifices it for the initiative and plays that for what it's worth.

Rather than making any other move, she could quietly resign. These are the alternatives:

• 31. -- Nb8 32. Bc4 Bxc4 33. Nxc4 Nd7 34. c6 Nf6 35. Qxe5 +-
• 31. -- Na7 32. Bxa6 Kh8 33. c6 Rb8 34. d7 Bf5 35. Qc4 +-
• 31. -- Qb7 32. b5 axb5 33. axb5 Na5 34. Qxb7 Nxb7 35. c6 +-

All of these would just leave her a piece down in a hopeless position.

32. Qxc6 Qh6 33. Bc4

The text is better than 33. Bxa6 Qh2+ 34. Kf1 f3 35. gxf3 e4 36. Qxe4 Rfe8.

33. -- Qh2+ 34. Kf1 Bxc4+ 35. Nxc4 f3 36. Qd5+ Kg7

The text is better than 36. -- Rf7 37. gxf3 although White wins easily in all variatons:

• 37. -- g2+ 38. Ke2
• 38. -- Kf8 39. c6 g1Q 40. Rxg1 Qxg1 41. c7
• 38. -- Qf4 39. Rg1 Kh8 40. Rxg2 e4 41. Qxe4 Rdf8 42. c6
• 37. -- Kf8 38. fxg3 Qh1+ 39. Ke2 Qg2+ 40. Ke3 Qxg3 41. Nxe5

37. Qxe5+!

White is not to be denied her victory. She is alert to the danger of Black's counterattack and coolly goes into defensive mode.

She could also win with 37. gxf3 g2+ 38. Ke2 g1Q 39. Rxg1+ Qxg1 40. Qxe5+ Kg8 41. Qg3+.

In order to withstand the counterattack, White must either exchange Queens or break up the advanced Kingside Pawns. Her own final assault must wait until that is accomplished.

37. -- Kh6 38. Qe6+

Another winning line is 38. Qe3+ Kg7 39. Qg5+ Kh8 40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. Qxg3+.

38. -- Kg7

Black: Yelena Dembo
!""""""""#
$ + T T +%
$+ + + Lo%
$o+ Pq+ +%
$+ P + + %
$pPn+ + +%
$+ + +oO %
$ + R PpW%
$+ +r+k+ %
/(((((((()
White: Pia Cramling
Position after Black's 38th move

39. Qh3!!

This is simpler than 39. Qe5+ Kh6 40. Qe5+ Kg8 41. Qg4+, which also works.

Black is doomed no matter how she twists and turns:

• 39. -- Rf4 40. Ne5 and now:
  • if 40. -- Kf6 41. Re1 then:
  • 41. -- Rh4 42. Nd7+!
  • 42. -- Kg7 43. Qxg3+ Qxg3 44. fxg3
  • 42. -- Rxd7 43. Qe6+ Kg7 and White forces mate: 44. Qxd7+ Kg6 45. Re6+ Kf5 46. Rd5+ Kf4 47. Qf7+ Kg4 48. Qxf3#
  • 41. -- gxf2 42. Nd7+ Rxd7 43. Re6+ Kf7 44. Qxh2
  • or if 40. -- fxg2+ then 41. Qxg2 Rdf8 42. f3 R4f5 43. Rd5
• 39. -- Qxh3 40. gxh3 g2+ 41. Kg1 Rf4 42. Rd4

39. -- Kh8 40. Ne5!

If 40. c6 then:

• 40. -- Rf6 41. Ne5 a5 42. d7 fxg2+ 43. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 44. Kxg2 +-
• 40. -- Rf5 41. c7 Rdf8 42. c8Q Rxc8 43. Ne3 Rff8 44. d7 +-

Although these variations also win for White, the text is better. With 40. Ne5 and with the White Queen blocking the escape of her Black counterpart, it is assured that either the forward Black Pawns will be destroyed or the Queens will be exchanged, thus refuting Black's spirited counterattack.

40. -- fxg2+ 41. Qxg2 Qh5

Also futile is 41. -- Qh4 42. Rd4 Qg5 43. Nf3 Qh5 44. R1d3 gxf2 45. Kxf2.

42. Qxg3 Rf5 43. Re1 Rg8 44. Qe3 Qh1+ 45. Ke2 Rxf2+

If 45. -- Qh5+ then 46. Kd3 Qh4 47. Qe4 Qf6 48. Qd4 and 49. d7 would be enough to finsh the game.

46. Qxf2 Qe4+ 47. Qe3 Rg2+ 48. Kf1 1-0

No matter how Black plays, there is loss of material and checkmate in a half dozen moves or so. Ms. Dembo resigns, but she deserves credit for making a good fight in a lost position. And Ms. Cramling deserves credit for a masterpiece of defensive play.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. North Urals Cup, Krasnoturyinsk

Zhu Chen
Photo: Muzi

Tatiana Kosintseva vs. Zhu Chen
North Urals Cup, Round 7
Krasnoturyinsk, Sverdlovsk Oblask, Russia, July 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Yates Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. d4 d6 9. c3 Bg4 10. d5

The Yates Opening is often arrived at in the move order 7. -- d6 8. c3 0-0 9. d4 Bg5. For decades, it was regraded as the main line of the Spanish Grand Royal where White forgot to play 9. h3 to avoid the Bishop pin before playing 10. d4. Nowadays, the present move order is common and the Yates is effectively used as a method to veto any intention Black has of playing the Marshall Gambit (7. -- 0-0 8. c3 d5).

Another line offering equal chances is 10. Bd5 Qd7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Be3 Rae8 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Nbd2 Qb7 15. d5.

10. -- Na5 11. Bc2 c6

Also establishing an equalibrium is 11. -- c5 12. b3 Nb7 13. Nbd2 Re8 14. a3 Nd7 15. Nf1 Rc8 16. Ne3 Bh5.

12. h3 Bc8

If 12. -- Bd7 then 13. a4 Nb7 14. axb5 cxb5 15. b3 a5 16. Nbd2 Qc7 17. Bb2 Rac8 with equality

13. dxc6 Qc7 14. Nbd2 Qxc6 15. Nf1 Be6

15. -- Nc4 16. Ng3 a5 17. b4 axb4 18. cxb4 Bd7 19. Bb3 Rfc8 is a level position.

16. Ng3 Rfe8 17. Ng5

If 17. a4 Rec8 18. axb5 axb5 then:

• 19. Nf5
• 19. -- Bf8 20. Bg5 Nd7 21. Qd3 Nc4 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Bc1 with a level game
• 19. -- Bxf5 20. exf5 Nc4 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Qe2 and an equal position
• 19. Bg5 Nc4 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Qc1 h6 22. Bh4 Bd8 23. Rd1 with equality

17. -- Bd7 18. Qe2 h6

If 18. -- Rac8 19. Rd1 Qc7 20. Qd3 b4 21. cxb4 Qxc2 22. bxa5 Qxd3 23. Rxd3

• 23. -- Bc6 24. Re3 d5 with equality
• 23. -- Rc2 24. Nf3 Rec8 25. Rd1 Kf8 26. Ne1 R2c5 and a balanced game

20. -- Red8 21. Qe2 b4 22. Qxa6 bxc3 23. Rb1 Nc4 24. bxc3 Rb8 and the position is even

19. Nf3 Bf8 20. Nh2 Rac8 21. Qf3

The equalibrium is maintained by 21. Nf3 Nb7 22. Bd2 Be6 23. b3 Be7 24. Nf5 Bd8 25. b4.

21. -- d5 22. exd5 Qxd5

Bad for Black would be 22. -- Nxd5?: if 23. Be4 Be6 24. Ng4 then:

• 24. -- Rcd8 25. Nxe5 Qc7 26. Nd3 Nc4 27. Nh5 and White is poised for an attack on the enemy King
• 24. -- Nc4 25. Nf5 Rcd8 26. Rd1 Kh8 27. Nfe3 and here, too, White is ready to strike at the Black King

23. Ne4 Nxe4 24. Bxe4 Qe6 25. Ng4 Bc6

25. -- Qd6 26. Rd1 Bxg4 27. Qxg4 Qf6 28. b3 Red8 29. Bb2 Bc5 30. Qf5 Qxf5 Bxf5 gives White a clear advantage in piece activity.

26. Bxc6 Nxc6 27. a3?!

This is interior to 27. Qg3 Qg6 and now:

• 28. Be3?! b4
• 29. c4 29. -- h5 30. Nh2 Qxg3 31. fxg3 e4 and Black has a small edge in space
• 29. Bd2 Rcd8 30. Rad1 Rd3 31. Be3 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 h5 and Black has more space on the wings
• 28. Bd2 28. -- Red8 29. Rad1 a5 30. Qf3 Bd6 31. Ne3 and White has stopped Black from expanding

27. -- e4 28. Qe2 f5 29. Nh2 Ne5 30. Be3

If 30. Rd1 then Nd3 31. Be3 Bd6 32. Rd2 f4 33. Ba7 Ra8 34. Bb6 Bxa3 35. Rxa3 Qxb6 and Black's advancing Pawns and intruding Knight give her serious winning chances.

30. -- Bd6 31. Bd4 Nd3 32. Red1 Qg6 33. Kh1

33. Rxd3 exd3 34. Qxd3 Re4 35. Nf3 Bf4 36. a4 bxa4 37. Rxa4 Rce8 38. Ra1 R8e6 and Black is only slightly better.

33. -- Bb8

33. -- Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Nf4+ 35. Kh1 Nxe2 36. Be3 Be5 favors Black only slightly.
Black: Zhu Chen
!""""""""#
$ Vt+t+l+%
$+ + + O %
$o+ + +wO%
$+o+ +o+ %
$ + Bo+ +%
$P Pm+ +p%
$ P +qPpN%
$R +r+ +k%
/(((((((()
White: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after Black's 33rd move


34. f3?

White seals her fate.

Correct is 34. Rd2! and now she gets a level game in these variations:

• 34. -- Bc7
• 35. Be3 35. -- Red8 36. Rad1 a5 37. f3 Qg3 38. Bg1 Bf4 39. Nf1
• 35. Rad1 Red8 36. Be3 Rd6 37. Bd4 Rcd8 38. f3 Nf4 39. Qf2
• 34. -- Bd6 35. Be3 Red8 36. Rad1 Bc7 37. Bd4 Nf4 38. Qf1

34. -- Nf4

Black can also play 34. -- exf3 and win: 35. Qxf3 Nxb2 36. Rf1 f4 37. Ra2 Na4.

35. Qc2 e3

Also winning is 35. -- exf3 36. Nxf3 Re2 37. Nh4 Rxc2 38. Nxg6 Nxg6.

36. Re1 e2 37. g4 Qd6 38. Bg1

38. Qxf5 Rc4 39. Qc2 Qxd4 40. Qxe2 Rxe2 41. cxd4 Rcc2 is futile for White.

38. -- fxg4 39. hxg4 Re6 40. a4

No better is 40. Rab1 Rce8 41. Qb3 Qd2 42. Qa2 Nd3 43. Nf1 exf1Q 44. Rxf1 Qf4 45. b4 Qf6.

40. -- Rce8 41. axb5 axb5 42. Qb3

Still losing is 42. Ra8 Nh3 43. Rxb8 Qxb8 44. Kg2 Nxg1 45. Qf5 Qd6 46. Qb1 Qb6 47. Qf5,

42. -- Kh8 43. Qxb5 Nd3 44. 0-1





Katya Lahno
Photo:ChessBase.com

Svetlana Matveeva vs. Katya Lahno
North Urals Cup, Round 7
Krasnoturyinsk, Sverdlovsk Oblask, Russia, July 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 c5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. a3 Ba5 9. h3 Qe7 10. Bd2 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Rd8 12. b4?

12. Ne2 then:

• 12. -- Bb6 13. Rc1 cxd4 14. exd4
• 14. -- Nxd4 15. Nexd4 Bxd4 16. Bb4
• 16. -- Qd7? 17. Qe2
• 17. -- Bb6 18. Bb5 Qd5
• 19. Be7 Bd7 20. Bxd7 Nxd7 21. Rfd1 +/-
• 19. Bd7? Bxd7 20. Rfd1 Qe4 -+
• 17. -- e5 18. Rfe1 a6 19. Rcd1 Qe8 20. Nxd4 exd4 21. Rxd4 +/-;
• 16. -- Qe8 17. Nxd4 e5 18. Bb5 Bd7 19. Qa4 exd4 +=;
• 14. -- Bd7 15. Re1 Rac8 16. b4 Nb8 17. Bg5 Bc6 =;
• 12. -- b6
• 13. Rc1 Bb7 14. Bb5 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 a6 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qc2 Qb7 =+
• 13. Bxa5 Nxa5 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Ne5 Qd6 16. f4 Qd5 17. Rf2 Ne4 18. Bxe4 Qxe4 =+
• 12. -- Bxd2
• 13. Nxd2? cxd4 14. exd4 Nxd4
• 15. Re1 b5 16. Bd3 Qd6 17. Ne4 Nf3+ -/+;
• 15. Nxd4 Rxd4 16. Qe2 b6 -/+
• 13. Qxd2 13. -- b6 14. Qc2 Bb7 15. dxc5
• 15. -- Qxc5 16. b4 Qe7 17. Rfd1 Rac8 =
• 15. -- Na5 16. cxb6 Bxf3 17. gxf3 axb6 18. Ba2 +=

12. -- cxb4 13. axb4 Bxb4 14. Qc2

If 14. Ne2 then 14. -- b6 15. Bxb4 Nxb4 16. Qb3 Bb7 17. Rfb1 a5 and Black's piece activity gives her a distinct edge.

14. -- b6 15. Rfb1

If 15. Bd3 Bb7 then:

• 16. Ne4 16. -- h6 17. Qa4 a5 18. Nxf6+ Qxf6
• 19. Be4 b5
• 20. Qxb5 Nxd4 21. Qxb7 Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Rab8 23. Qa7 Bxd2 and Black's active Rooks give her a clear advantage
• 20. Qc2 Bxd2 21. Nxd2 Nb4 22. Qb1 Bxe4 23. Nxe4 Qe7 and Black has a distinct plus from her advancing Queenside Pawns
• 19. Qd1 Bxd2 20. Qxd2 Nb4 21. Be2 Rac8 and Black's Queenside Pawns and control of open lines give her a strong position
• 16. Rfb1 Rac8 17. Qb3 Bd6 18. Nb5 Ba8 19. e4 Bb8 20. e5 Nd5 21. Bc2 Ncb4 and Black's better placed pieces give her a strong plus

15. -- Bb7 16. Bb5

If 16. Ra4 then 16. -- a6 17. d5 exd5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5 Rxd5 20. Bxb4 Nxb4 21. Raxb4 Rc5 and Black has better control of open lines.

16. -- Rac8 17. Qa4 a5 18. Rc1 e5 19. Ne2

19. Nb1 Rd6 20. Bxb4 axb4 then:

• 21. Nh4 g6 22. dxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxc8+ Bxc8
• 24. Qc2 Bd7
• 25. Ra8+ Kg7 26. Ra7 -/+
• 25. Be2 Bc6 -/+
• 24. Qa8 Rd8 25. Be2 Bxh3 26. Qa7 Qxa7 27. Rxa7 Be6 28. Ra4 -+


• 21. dxe5 Nxe5
• 22. Nbd2 Nxf3+ 23. Nxf3 Rxc1+ 24. Rxc1 Nd5 -/+
• 22. Rxc8+ Bxc8 23. Nbd2 Rd8 24. Nxe5 Qxe5 25. Nf3 Qc5 26. Nd4 =+

Black: Katya Lahno
!""""""""#
$ +tT +l+%
$+v+ WoOo%
$ Om+ M +%
$Ob+ O + %
$qV P + +%
$+ + Pn+p%
$ + BnPp+%
$R R + K %
/(((((((()
White: Svetlana Matveeva
Position after White's 19th move

19. -- Bxd2!

If 19. -- Qe6? then White equalizes by 20. Bxb4 axb4 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. dxe5 Qxe5 23. Qxb4.

20. Nxd2 Nb4 21. Rxc8?!

21. Nc4 exd4 then:

• 22. Nxd4 Ne4
• 23. Qd1 Qg5 24. f4 Qf6 25. Ne5 Nc3 26. Qf1 Nxb5 27. Qxb5 -+
• 24. Nxb6 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Nxf2 26. Kxf2 Qxg2+ 27. Ke1 Qg3+ -+
• 23. Qa3 Qg5 24. f3 Rxd4 25. exd4 Qxb5 26. Nxa5 Rxc1+ 27. Rxc1 bxa5 28. fxe4 -+

22. Rd1 d3 23. Nf4 Nd7 24. Qa3 Bc6 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 -+

21. -- Rxc8 22. Nc4 exd4 23. Nxb6

No better is 23. exd4 Qe4 24. Ne3 Nfd5 25. Ng3 Qxd4,

23. -- Qe4 24. f3

White loses yet after 24. Nf4 Rb8 25. Qd1 dxe3 26. Qd6 exf2+ 27. Kh2 Rf8 28. Rf1 Qe1.

24. -- Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 Rd8 26. Qxa5

Futile is 26. Nc4 Qxe2 27. Nxa5 Qe7 28. Nxb7 Qxb7 29. Qxb4 d3 30. Qa5 Qd5,

26. -- d3 27. Ng3

White has no hope: 27. Nc4 Qe7 28. Ng3 d2 29. Ne3 Rc8 still loses.

27. -- d2 28. Be2 Nc6 29. Qa4 Qxb6 30. 0-1

White is a piece down and Black's d-Pawn is being fitted for a crown. Ms. Matveeva resigns.

[Lithos]

9. Would the Yates Opening

Be named for Frederick Yates?

L-

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Frederick Dewhurt Yates 1884-1932

Several times British champion and occasional bete noir of Dr. Alekhine.