Jack Rabbit Chess Report for August 27: Sokolov wins the Staunton

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending August 27




Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Games from Current and Recent events


Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock in Star Trek (1984)
from ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Chess News for the Week Ending August 27

Ivan Sokolov wins Staunton Memorial



Dutch grandmaster Ivan Sokolov, originally from Bosnia, won the Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament in London with 9 points in 11 rounds.

Sokolov won 7 games and drew four without a loss. Jan Timman of Holland and Michael Adams of Britain tied for second with 8½ points apiece.

Official Cross Table
Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament
London

---------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W) (SB).
.1. Ivan Sokolov. . . . . . .- ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 9. (7) .....
.2. Jan Timman. . . . . . . .½ - ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 8½ (6) 42.75
.3. Michael Adams . . . . . .½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 1 8½ (6) 39.50
.4. Jan Werle . . . . . . . .½ 0 ½ - ½ 0 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 7, (5) .....
.5. Erwin L'Ami . . . . . . .0 0 ½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 6½ (4) .....
.6. Peter Wells . . . . . . .½ 0 0 1 ½ - 1 0 1 1 ½ 0 5½ (3) .....
.7. Jonathan Speelman . . . .0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 - ½ 1 1 ½ 1 5. (3) .....
.8. Tea Bosboom-Lanchava . . 0 ½ 0 0 0 1 ½ - 1 0 ½ 1 4½ (3) .....
.9. Yge Visser. . . . . . . .0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 - 1 1 1 4. (3) .....
10. David Howell. . . . . . .0 ½ 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 - 1 1 3½ (2) .....
11. Jonathan Levitt . . . . .0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 0 - 1 3. (1) .....
12. Lawrence Day. . . . . . .0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - 1. (1) .....

The first six games of the tournament were played at the historic Simpson's Divan, a famous chess parlor since the 1840s. The remaining games were played at Wellington College.

Tkachiev defeats Fressinet in playoff to win overall French Championship



Vladislav Tkachiev, originally from Kazakhstan, defeated Laurent Fressinet in a two-game rapid chess palyoff to win the overall national championship of France Friday in Besançon.

Both men finished the 11-round event with 7½ points. Each won 4 and drew 7 without a loss.

Tkachiev and Fressinet drew the frist game of the playoff. Tkachiev won the second in 71 moves.

Unofficial Cross Table
French National Championship, General Event
Besançon, Franche-Comté province, Burgundy region

---------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W)
.1 g Vladislav Tkachiev . . .- ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 7½ (4)
.2 g Kaurent Fressinet. . . .½ - ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 7½ (4)
.3 g Robert Fontaine. . . . .½ ½ - 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 1 ½ ½ 1 7. (4)
.4 g Joel Lautier . . . . . .½ ½ 0 - ½ 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 6. (3)
.5 g Maxime Vachier-Lagrave .0 ½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 ½ 6. (2)
.6 g Christian Bauer. . . . .½ 0 0 1 ½ - ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5½ (2)
.7 g Josef Dorfman. . . . . .½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5½ (0)
.8 g Andrei Sokolov . . . . .0 ½ 1 ½ 0 ½ ½ - ½ 1 ½ 0 5. (2)
.9 g Anatoly Vasser . . . . .½ 0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ - 1 0 1 4½ (2)
10 g Igor Nataf . . . . . . .½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 - 1 0 4½ (1)
11 m Vincent Colin. . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 0 - 1 4. (2)
12 m Favien Libiszewski . . .0 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 0 1 0 - 3. (2)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

It was a dissappointing tournament for top seed Joel Lautier, who finished tied for fourth with 6 points.

Robert Fontaine, a 21-year-old grandmaster who occasionally plays in the United States, surprised observers by finishing third after winning his individual encounter with Lautier in the early rounds of the event.

Almira Skripchenko runs away with French women's championship

Almira Skirpchenko, a Moldavian native of Ukrainian ancestry who has been a French citizen since 2001, won the French women's national championship in Besançon ;ast week with 10 points out of a possible 11.

Mlle. Skipchenko won nine games. She drew two, one in the third round against runner-up Pauline Guichard and an 11-move last round game with third place finisher Maria Leconte.



Almira Skripchenko
Photo: ChessBase.com

Mlle. Skripchenko had a point and a half lead going into the final round.

Unofficial Cross Table
French National Championships, Women's Event
Besançon, Franche-Comté province, Burgundy region

--------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W)
.1 Almira Skripchenko. . . .- ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 10 (9)
.2 Pauline Guichard. . . . .½ - ½ 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 9. (7)
.3 Maria Leconte . . . . . .½ ½ - 1 1 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 1 ½ 8½ (6)
.4 Anne Muller . . . . . . .0 0 0 - 0 ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 1 5½ (4)
.5 Marina Roumegous. . . . .0 0 0 1 - 0 1 1 0 ½ ½ 1 5. (4)
.6 Christine Flear . . . . .0 ½ 0 ½ 1 - ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 5. (1)
.7 Marie-Christine Esposito 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ - 0 ½ 1 1 1 4½ (3)
.8 Natacha Benmesbah . . . .0 ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 - 0 0 ½ 1 4½ (2)
.9 Friederike Wohlers-Armas 0 0 0 0 1 ½ ½ 1 - 1 0 0 4. (3)
10 Mathilde Congiu . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ 0 1 0 - ½ ½ 3½ (1)
11 Mathilde Choisy . . . . .0 0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 ½ - ½ 3½ (1)
12 Melanie Verot . . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ - 3. (1)

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

In addition to being an international grandmaster at chess, Mlle. Skripchenko studies law at the Sorbonne, speaks several languages fluently and recently took up world-class poker. One of the most photographed women in international chess, she also models for promotional posters for a German football team.

Mainz Chess Fest concludes

The annual Mainz Chess Classic festival concluded in Germany last week.

During the course of events, Vishy Anand of India once again claimed the world rapid chess championship by defeating Azerbaijan's Teimour Radjabov in a eight game match, 5-3.



Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com

Simultaneously with the rapid chess match, Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian, who is known for his prowess in chess variants, defeated Peter Svidler of Russia in a world championship match of FischeRandom chess, a chess variant developed by former world champion Bobby Fischer. Each player begin the game by placing their pieces on the back rank in an order of his choosing.

In the final days at Mainz, Rustam Kazimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan's Shakhriyar Mamedyarov shared first place in an open tournament of rapid chess, each scoring 9½ points out of 11. Natalia Zhukova of Ukraine won a prize as the top finishing woman in the event with 8½ points.

Georgians take top spots in Athens

Grandmasters Tamaz Gelashvili and Levan Aroshidze of Georgia (the Caucasus republic) and reigning Argentine national champion Fernando Peralta tied for first prize in the general event of the Acroplis Open in Athens while 19-year-old master Solome Melia, also from Georgia, won the women's event.

Gelashvili, Aroshidze and Peralta each scored 7 points out of 9 in a hotly contested Swiss system tournament.

Ms. Melia had an easier time in the women's event, scoring 7 points, a half-point clear of her nearest rival, the top seeded Elina Danielian of Armenia. Ms. Melia went into the final round leading by a full point. Ms. Danielian won her final game with Black against Ioulia Makka of Greece in order to pull ahead of several rivals for the runner-up position.



Awards Ceremonies in Athens
Photos: Official website of the Acropolis Open, 2006

Some women participated in the main event, including former women's world champions Zhu Chen, formerly of China but who now plays for Qatar, and Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria. Ms. Zhu, who finishes tied for sixth place with 6 points, was one of many players vying for top honors before faltering in the last two rounds.

Youth team lead veterans in Amsterdam



A team of five young grandmasters, all but one in his teens, lead a team of veteran players, all but one in his fifties, in a Scheveningen team match in Amesterdam after eight rounds.

The score in individual points is 22-18.

The rising star team consists of Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine, China's Wang Hao, and Dutch GMs Daniel Stellwagen and Jan Smeets.

The old timers are Ljubomir Ljubojevic of Serbia, Sweden's Ulf Andersson, Slovenian GM Alexander Beliavsky, Englishman John Nunn and Artur Jussupow (also spelled Yusupov) of Germany.

In today's action, Carlsen with Black defeated Jussupow and Ljubojuvic, playing White, defeated Smeets. All other games were drawn.

Carlsen, at 15 the youngest of the young players, is leading the individual scoring with 6 points in eight rounds. Calrsen has won four games. Beliavsky leads the old timers in scoring with 5 points.

The event concludes Tuesday.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from Current and Recent Events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Jonathan Parker - Jonathan Rowson, British Championship, Swansea
James Cobb - Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, British Championship, Swansea
Tea Bosboom-Lanchava - Ivan Sokolov, Stauton Memorial, London
Vladislav Tkachiev - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, French Championships, Besançon
Laurent Fressinet - Christian Bauer, French Championships, Besançon
Friederike Wohlers-Armas - Almira Skripchenko, French Championships, Besançon
Fernando Peralta - Nikolaos Kalesis, Acropolis Open, Athens
Tamaz Gelashvili - Athanasios Mastrovasilis, Acropolis Open, Athens


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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.


Also, the JR chess report puts the main variation in annotations more distinct by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Jonathan Parker - Jonathan Rowson, British Championship, Swansea

Jonathan Rowson
Overall Champion of the British Isles, 2004, 2005 & 2006
Photo: New York Masters

Jonathan Parker vs. Jonathan Rowson
British Campionship, Round 11
Swansea, August 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 d6

Advancing the d-pawn to the center is more common nowadsys; for example: 8. -- d5 9. Rb1 0-0 10. Bd3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. Qb3 c6 14. 0-0.

9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. f3

White seeks to establish a broad pawn center with 11. e4, but he can get a satisfactory game with 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Qg4 0-0.

10. -- Qe7 11. e4 g5

11. -- 0-0 12. Bd3 c5 13. Rb1 e5 14. 0-0 Rad8 15. d5 is level.

12. Bf2 c5 13. Qa4!?

A satisfactory game for both sides is achieved by 13. Bd3 Nh5 14. Bc2 Nf4 15. 0-0 Rg8 16. a4 or 13. Rb1 a6 14. Bd3 Rc8 15. Bc2 e5 16. 0-0 0-0.

13. -- Nh5 14. h4 0-0-0!?

This is an interesting decision. Black's King seems like it would be safer in the center than on either of the wings. An advantage the text move has over 14. -- Rd8 is that it alos connects the Rooks.

If 14. -- g4 15. fxg4 then the equalibrium is established by:

• 15. -- Nhf6 16. Be2
• 16. -- Rg8 17. Rh3 Nxg4 18. Rg3 f5 19. exf5 exf5
• 16. -- Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bxe4 18. Bf3 Bxf3 19. gxf3
• 15. -- Ng7?! 16. Rh3 h5
• 17. gxh5 Nxh5 18. g3 e5 19. d5
• 17. g5 e5 18. Rb1 Rg8 19. Rf3

15. Qxa7 Kc7 16. Qa4 f5

Positions like this are difficult to judge. It would appear that White has an advantage in space, especially in the center. However, Black's position is solid. Neither player is going to have an easy time finding weaknesses in the other's position.

If 16. -- Ra8 17. Qb3 then:

• 17. -- Bc6 18. Rb1 f5 19. hxg5 hxg5 20. g3 White has a slight advantage in space.
• 17. -- f5 18. Rb1 g4 19. fxg4 fxg4 20. g3 White has a clear advantage in space/

17. Qc2 g4 18. fxg4 Nhf6 19. Bd3?!

Better is 19. Rb1 and then:

• 19. -- fxe4 20. Be2 Rhg8 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Be3 Qh7 23. Qd1 Qg7 amd Black may hold a small advantage in the structure of his central pawns.
• 19. -- Nxg4 20. Bg3 Rhg8 21. Rh3 fxe4 22. Nxe4 e5 23. dxc5 bxc5 24. Bd3 with equal chances.

As it stood just prior to the text move, White had a slight edge with his greater piece mobility. Now Black has an opportunity to equalize.

19. -- Nxg4 20. Bg1 f4

20. -- Rhg8 21. Rb1 Ra8 22. Rb2 e5 23. dxc5 dxc5 24. Be2 would level the game.

21. Nf3

If 21. Rb1, then Black evens the game by 21. -- e5 22. Rb5 Rhg8 23. Nf3 Ngf6.

21. -- e5!

The game is now equal.

22. h5 Qf7 23. Nh4

If 23. Rb1 Ngf6 then:

• 24. Qe2?! exd4 25. cxd4 Nxe4
• 26. Qc2 Ra8
• 27. dxc5 dxc5 28. Bh2 Ng3 and Black intruding Knight gives him an advantage.
• 27. d5 Ndf6 28. Bxe4 Rhe8 29. Kd1 Nxe4 gives Black command of open lines and a plus in space.
• 26. Qb2 Rde8 27. Kd1 Rhg8 28. Rh2 Rg3 29. d5 Qe7 and Black controls the important e-file.
• 24. Rh4 24. -- Rde8 25. Nd2 Rhg8 26. Rh2 Nxh5 27. Nf3 Qg6 and White is able to prevent Black from penetrating on the kingside.

23. -- Qxh5 24. Rh3 Rhe8 25. Nf5

If 25. Qe2 exd4 26. cxd4 Bxe4 27. Bxe4 Rxe4 28. Qxe4 Re8 29. Qxe8 Qxe8+ 30. Kd2 then:

• 30. -- Qe4 31. Re1 Ne3 and Black's attack will be very disruptive.
• 30. -- cxd4 31. Bxd4 Qe4 32. Kc3 Nde5 and Black's pieces are showing better cooridination.

25. -- Qg5 26. d5 h5 27. Qb2?!

White's plan is to attack along the b-file. This is better done wiht 27. Rb1, since the text moves takes a defender off the e-pawn.

If 27. Rb1! Ra8 28. Be2 then:

• 28. -- Ra3 29. g3 Rea8 30. Rb2 R8a7 31. Kf1 Ra8 32. Ke1 and White holds his position.
• 28. -- Ndf6 29. Nxd6 Kxd6 30. Rxb6+ Kc7 31. Qb1 with equality.

27. -- Ra8 28. Be2 Ra6 29. Bf3 Rea8 30. Qb3 Ra3 31. Qb2 R8a4 32. Bd1

Black's most natural plan is to break through on the a-file. If White cannot prevent this, he needs to find a way to take the sting out of it.

If 32. Bf2 Nxf2 33. Kxf2 Qg8 34. Bd1 Ra6 then:

• 35. Bxh5
• 35. -- Qa8 36. Be2 Rxa2 37. Rxa2 Rxa2 38. Qb3 Ra3 39. Qb1
• 39. -- Qa5?! 40. Rh7
• 40. -- Ra1 41. Qd3 and White holds in spite of the penetration on the a-file.
• 40. -- Rxc3? 41. Qh1! Bc8 42. Qh6 Rc1 43. Qxd6+ and White's counterplay on the kingside is a decided success.
• 40. -- Qxc3? 41. Qb5! and White wins.
• 39. -- Ra1 40. Qd3 Nf6 and Black's pieces have enough movility to limit any countrplay from White.
• 35. -- Nf6 36. Qb1 Nxh5 37. Rxh5 Rxc3 38. Rh6 Rxc4 39. Nxd6 Rb4 and Black's queenside attack has yielded a small advantage.
• 35. Qb1 Qa8 36. Rxh5 Rxa2+ 37. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 38. Be2 Ra1 39. Qd3 Nf6 40. Rh6 Qf8 and Black stops White's counterplay and continues with his attack.

Both players now lapse into making inferior moves, with Black giving White opportunities to get back in the game and White missing them.

32. -- Ra8?!

This is almost a blunder. The a8 point should be reserved for the Queen to support the Rooks in the a-file.

Better is 32. -- Ra6 33. Bxg4 hxg4 34. Rh7 and then:

• 34. -- Qd8 35. Ng7
• 35. -- Qg8 36. Ne6+ Kc8 37. Rg7 Qh8 38. Kf1 R6a5 39. Rxd7 Kxd7 40. Qxb6 Qc8 and Black clearly has more piece activity.
• 35. -- Kb8? would let White off the hook: 36. Ne6 Qe8 37. Qb5 Nf6 38. Qxe8+ Nxe8 39. Rh8 Rxa2 with equality.
• 34. -- Qg8 35. Rg7 Qa8 36. Qb5 Qd8 37. Rxg4 Rxa2 and Blaxk has broken through.

33. Bf3?!

Better is 33. Bf2 and now:

• 33. -- Nxf2 34. Kxf2 h4 35. Kg1 R8a6 36. Nxh4 Nf6 37. Nf3 Qg6 38. Nd2 and Black is applying pressure, but White has a good chance of holding on.
• 33. -- Qg6 34. Bh4 Ne3 35. Nxe3 fxe3 36. Rxe3 and White should hold his position.

If 33. Be2? R8a6 then:

• 34. Bf3 Ndf6 35. Qb5 Nh6 36. Nxd6 Kxd6 37. Bxc5+ bxc5 38. Qxb7 h4 39. Qb8+ Ke7 40. Qb7+ Nd7 41. Qb2 Ng4 and Black should win with a grand Pinzer attack.
• 34. Rh1 Ndf6 35. Bf3 Bc8 36. Ne7 Bd7 37. Qc2 h4 38. Nc6 Ne3 39. Bxe3 fxe3 40. Kd1 R6a4 and Black's pieces are ready to eat oawns.

33. -- R3a5?!

Again, Black gives White the opportunity to get back in the game.

Better is 33. -- R8a5 then:

• 34. g3 Ba6 35. Be2 R3a4
• 36. a3 fxg3 37. Nxg3 h4 38. Nf1 Ngf6 and Black's chances of converting this position to a win are excellent.
• 36. gxf4 exf4 37. Kf1 Ngf6 38. Qc1 Bxc4 39. Bxc4 Rxc4 and Black has won a pawn.
• 34. Bf2 34. -- Nxf2 35. Kxf2 Qg8 36. Rxh5 Qa8
• 37. Qb1 Rxa2+ 38. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 39. Be2 Qa4 and Black is in a strong position to do some damage.
• 37. Kg1 Rxa2 38. Rxa2 Rxa2 39. Qb3 Ra1+ 40. Kh2 Nf6 and Black's position is flexible enought to either attack or defend depending on White's intnetions.

34. Rh1?

Again, White misses the opportunity and now loses.

Correct is 34. Bf2! and now:

• 34. -- Nxf2 35. Kxf2 h4 36. Rxh4 Nf6 37. Rh2 Bc8 38. Nxd6 Kxd6 39. Qxb6+ with equality.
• 34. -- Qg6
• 35. Bh4 35. -- Ne3 36. Nxe3 fxe3 37. Rg3 Qh7 38. Rg5 =
• 35. Ne7? Nxf2
• 36. Kxf2 Qe8 37. Nf5 and Black is in a strong position.
• 36. Nxg6? Nd3+ 37. Ke2 Nxb2 and Black has won a piece.

Black: Jonathan Rowson
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White: Jonathan Parker
Position after White's 34th move

34. -- R8a6!

Black now has time to right his inaccuratcy on move 32. At a6, the Rook protects the b-pawn, and more importantly it makes room for the Queen to support the final assault.

35. Rh3

Nothing works:

If 35. Qb1 Ndf6 then:

• 36. Qc2 Bc8 37. Nh4 Ra3
• 38. Kf1 Ne3+ 39. Bxe3 fxe3 40. Kg1 R6a4 41. Qb2 Qg3
• 38. Kd1 Ne3+ 39. Bxe3 fxe3 40. Be2 Bg4 41. Bf3 R6a4
• 36. Rh3 36. -- Bc8 37. Ne7 Bd7 38. Rh1 Nxe4 39. Bxe4 Qxe7

35. -- Bc8 36. Rh1 Nf8 37. Nh4

If 37. Qc2 Bxf5 38. exf5 Nd7 39. Be2 Ndf6 then White wins:

• 40. Bd3 Nh6 41. Rh3 f3 42. Rxf3 e4
• 40. Rh3 Ne3 41. Bxe3 Qxg2 -+

37. -- Nh7 38. Qd2 Bd7 39. Kf1 Nhf6 40. Ke2 Ra4 41. 0-1

Black will now finish the task of breaking down White's defenses.

If 40. -- Ra4 41. Kd3 b5 then:

• 42. Qb2 Rxc4
• 43. a3 Qg8 44. Re1 Qa8 45. Qb1 Rxa3 46. Ke2 Rcxc3
• 43. Re1 Rca4 44. Ra1 Qg8 45. Kc2 Nxe4 46. Bxe4 Rxe4
• 42. g3 Rxc4 43. Re1 Qg8 44. gxf4 exf4 45. Ke2 Nxe4 46. Bxe4 Rxe4+

Mr. Parker resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. James Cobb - Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, British Championship, Swansea

Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Women's Champion and overall Vice-Champion of the British Isles, 2006
Photo: Four Nations Chess League (UK)

James Cobb vs. Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
British Championship, Round 10
Swansea, August 2006

Torre Opening: Grünfeld Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 d5 5. e3 0-0 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. 0-0 c5 8. c4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qa5 11. Bh4 Nb6 12. Be2 Qb4 13. Qc2 e5 14. a3 Qe7 15. Nb5 Bf5 16. e4 Rac8!?

Black leaves her a-pawn en prise while it is under attack. Whether she gets enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn in terms of piece activity or initiative is a question worth asking.

A level game can be achieved by using the other Rook: 16. -- Rfc8 17. Nc3 Bd7 18. Rac1 Ba4 19. b3 Bc6.

17. Qb1 Bd7!

Black prods the Knight to either take the pawn get out of the way.

Fritz says White would have the better of it after 17. -- Rfd8 18. Rd1 Bd7 19. Nxa7 Ra8 20. Nb5 Rac8 21. Nf3 Rc5. Of course, Fritz is a crass materialist and is for the most part recognizing that White has an extra pawn.

The fact is that if White accepts the pawn, the position of the Black Bishop, supported by the Queen, will make it difficult for White to liberate the Knight from a7.

Black: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
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White: James Cobb
Position after Black's 17th move

18. Nxa7!?

The best way to refute a sacrifice is to accept it. -- Steinitz.

18. -- Rcd8 19. Nf3 Qe8 20. Qd3

White is preparing the Knight's escape.

20. -- Na4!

This prevents 21. a4 which would be follwed by 22. Nb5 Black threatens to win back the pawn with tempo.

21. Bxf6

White before removing the Queen to attack the Knight, White must eliminate the Black Knight attacking his e-pawn.

If 21. b3 then 21. -- Nc5 22. Qe3 Nxe4 and Black has her pawn back and White's Knight is still at a7.

21. -- Bxf6 22. Qb3 Nc5 23. Qb4 Ne6 24. Bb5?!

White still has an extra pawn, but his Knight is still offside. The problem with the text move is that it blocks the Knight's escape route.

White could simply free the Knight immediately: 24. Nb5 Be7 25. Qb3 Nc5 26. Qc4 Be6 27. Qc2 Rc8 28. Nc3; but this leaves a hole at b3 which can be exploited with either 28. -- Bb3 or 28. -- Nb3.

White's best try to maintian a significant advantage seems to be 24. Rad1 Nd4 25. Nxd4 exd4 26. f3 and now:

• 26. -- Be6 27. f4 Bg7 28. e5 f6 29. Bb5 Qf7 and White still has no place to move the Knight while Black's Bishop takes aim at the hole at b3.
• 26. -- Be7?! 27. Qb6 Bg5
• 28. Kh1 28. -- Be3 29. Bc4
• 29. -- Ra8 30. Nb5 Bxb5 31. Bxb5 and White, having succeeded in trading off his wayward Knight for the Bishop that could exploit the hole at b3, stands much better.
• 29. -- Be6 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. Rd3 e5 32. Qxb7 and now White has won a second pawn.
• 29. -- Bc6 30. Rd3 Ra8 31. Nxc6 bxc6 32. Qc5 Qb8 33. b4 White remains a pawn up, threatens another and could also imprison the Bishop at e3 by playing a timely f3f4
• 28. f4?! Qxe4 29. fxg5 Qxe2 30. Rfe1 Qg4 and White has her pawn back.
• 28. Qxd4? Ba4 29. Qc5 Bxd1 30. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 31. Bxd1 and White has an exchange and better piece activity for two pawns.

Another good try is 24. a4 then:

• 24. -- Be7 25. Qxb7 Rb8 26. Qd5 Nf4
• 27. Qd2! 27. -- Bxa4 28. Bd1 Bxd1 29. Rfxd1 Bb4 30. Qc2 and White stands better with his command of the c- and d-files.
• 27. Qd1?! Bxa4 28. Qxa4 Nxe2+ 29. Kh1 Rxb2 30. Nxe5 Qxa4 31. Rxa4 Ra8 levels the game.
• 24. -- Ra8?! 25. Nb5 lets the Knight out too easily.

The overall verdict on the pawn sacrifice at move 16 is that is is successful.

24. -- Nf4 25. Rfd1 Qe6 26. h3 Bxb5 27. Nxb5

Black: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
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White: James Cobb
Position after White's 27th move.

27. -- Nd3!

Since it is a chess maxim that when behind in material, as Black is at the moment, one should exchange pawns and not pieces, it is no surprise that 27. -- Rxd1 is bad for Black: 27. -- Rxd1+? 28. Rxd1 Be7 29. Qa5 b6 30. Qa7 and White is very strong on the queenside.

27. -- Rd3 is a little better, but it is also beset with problems: if 27. -- Rd3 28. Rxd3 Nxd3 29. Qd6 then:

• 29. -- Qb3
• 30. Rb1
• 30. -- Qc2 31. Rf1 Bg7 32. Qd5 Nf4 33. Qxb7 Qxb2 and White is once again a pawn to the good, but the pin in the b-file alleviates that somewhat.
• 30. -- Bg7? 31. Nc3 Nf4 32. Qd1 Qb6 33. Nd5 +/-
• 30. Qxf6 Qxb2 31. Rd1 Qxb5 +=
• 29. -- Qxd6 30. Nxd6 b6 31. Nc4 b5 32. Nd6 Nxb2 33. Rc1 and White retains a slight advantage and should take the b-pawn.

The text move, which discourages exchanges and gains time by attacking White's Queen, is best.

28. Nc7

If 28. Nfd4 exd4 29. Rxd3 Qxe4then:

• 30. Rad1 Rd7 31. b3 Rfd8 32. Qd2 Qh4 33. b4 Bg7 is level.
• 30. Rd2 Be5 31. Rad1 Rd7 32. Qc4 Rfd8 with an equal game.

If 28. Qa5 Nxb2 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Nc7 Qc6 31. Nd5 then:

• 31. -- b6 32. Qa6 Rd6
• 33. Nxe5 Qe8 34. Nxf6+ Rxf6 35. Ng4 Rc6 36. Rb1 Qxe4 is even.
• 33. Nxf6+ Rxf6 34. Nxe5 Qe8 35. Ng4 Rc6 36. f3 and White's extra pawn gives him a clear advantage.
• 31. -- Nc4? 32. Qb4 Kg7 and White's centralized Knight gives him the better game.

28. -- Qc6 29. Qc3

29. Rxd3 Rxd3 30. Nd5 Rd8 31. b3 Kh8 32. Ra2 Bg7 33. Re2 f6 give Black a clear advantage with her control of the c- and d-files.

29. -- Qxe4 30. Kf1 Qf5 31. Qa5

31. Qc2 e4 32. Nh2 Qc8 33. Ng4 Bd4 34. Rd2 f5 35. Ne3 Rf7 and Black's Knight is sitting on a spledid outpost at d3.

31. -- e4 32. Qxf5 gxf5 33. Ne1 Nxb2

This move is probably good enough, but better is 33. -- Rd7 34. Nxd3 exd3 35. Nb5 Bxb2 36. Rab1 Bf6.

34. Rxd8

If 34. Rd5 then:

• 34. -- Na4 35. Rb1 Nc3 36. Rxd8
• 36. -- Nxb1 37. Rd6 Rc8 38. Nd5 Bg5 39. Rb6 Nc3 -/+
• 36. -- Rxd8 37. Rxb7 Rd2 =+
• 34. -- f4 35. Rc1 Rxd5 36. Nxd5 Bd4 37. Nxf4 Rd8 =

Black: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
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White: James Cobb
Position after White's 34th move (34. Rd1xd8)

34. -- Rxd8!

This way of recapturing is correct.

If 34. -- Bxd8 35. Rc1 then:

• 35. -- Kg7 36. Nb5
• 36. -- Kg6 37. Ke2
• 37. -- 38. Rc7 b6 39. Rb7 Na4 -/+
• 37. -- Bg5 38. Rc2 Bf6 39. Rc7 -/+
• 36. -- Bh6 37. Nd6 Rd8 38. Nxb7 Rd7 -/+
• 36. -- Be7 36. Rb1 Nd3 37. Rxb7 Rc8 28. Ke2 Nf4+ 39. Kf1 Bxa3 -/+

The above variations all give Black a strong game, but she would still be looking for the knockout punch. After the text move, the game is won.

35. Rb1 Rd2 36. Rc1 Nd3 37. Nxd3 Rxd3

If 37. -- exd3 38. Nb5 Be5 39. a4 then:

• 39. -- f4 40. Ke1 Re2+ 41. Kf1 Ra2 =+
• 39. -- h5 40. Ke1 Bf4 41. Rd1 Rxd1+ 42. Kxd1 =

38. Rb1 Bd4 39. Nb5 Bc5 40. Ke2 Rd7

40. -- f4! also wins: 41. h4 f3+ 42. gxf3 Rxf3 43. Rf1 Kg7 44. Rg1+ Kf6 45. Rg2 h5 46. a4 Ke5 47. Nc7 f5

41. Rb2 b6 42. a4 Rd3 43. Na7 f4! 44. Nc8 f3+ 45. gxf3 Rxf3 46. Kf1 e3 47. Nxb6 exf2

Black would throw it away with 47. -- Bxb6?, allowing 48. Rxb6 Rxf2+ 49. Ke1 f5 50. a5 f4 51. a6 Kg7 52. Rb4 =

48. Nd7 Ba7 49. Rb7 Bd4 50. Rb4 Rd3 51. Rb1 Rxh3 52. Ke2

No better is 52. Kg2 Rh6 53. Rf1 Rd6 54. Nb8 Rb6 55. Nd7 Rb7 56. Nf6+ Bxf6 57. Rxf2 Kg7.

52. -- Re3+ 53. Kf1

If 53. Kxf2 then 53. -- Rb3+ wins the Rook.

53. -- Ra3 54. Nb8 Rxa4 55. Nc6 Bc5 56. Ne5

If 56. Rc1 Be3 57. Rd1 Kg7 58. Ne7 Bc5 59. Nf5+ Kg6 60. Ng3 h5 then Black pawns triumoh over White's Knight.

56. -- Kg7 57. Rc1 Be3 58. Rd1 h5 59. Ke2

If 59. Nd3 f5 then:

• 60. Ke2 f4 61. Rf1 Ra3 forces the exchange of Rooks, which would make Black's task even easier.
• 60. Nxf2 Rf4 61. Ke2 Bxf2 62. Rf1 Bg3 is an easy win for Black.

59. -- Ba7 60. Nd3 Re4+ 61. Kf3

If 61. Kf1 Rg4 then:

• 62. Ke2 h4 63. Rf1 Bd4 64. Nxf2 Rg2 65. Kf3 Rxf2+ 66. Rxf2 Bxf2 67. Kxf2 Kh6 looks like something found in endgame manuals.
• 62. Nxf2 Rf4 63. Rd2 h4 64. Ra2 Bxf2 65. Rxf2 Rxf2+ 66. Kxf2 Kg6 is also a book win.

61. -- f1Q+ 61. 0-1

After 62. Rxf1, Black wins a piece by 62. Re3+ 63. Kf4 Rxd3. Mr. Cobb resigns.

A splendid game by Ms. Arakhamia-Grant.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Tea Bosboom-Lanchava - Ivan Sokolov, Stauton Memorial, London

Ivan Sokolov
Photo: World Chess Trophy (Czech)

Tea Bosboom-Lanchava vs. Ivan Sokolov
Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament, Round 9
London, August 2006

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Czech Variation) (Modern Benoni)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Nbd7 6. Nge2 h5!?

This move is a bit out of the ordinary.

A satisfactory game for both plays can be achieved by 6. -- Be7 7. Ng3 g6 8. Be2 a6 9. Bh6 Bf8.

7. Bg5 h4 8. Qd2 a6 9. Ng1 Be7 10. Nf3 Nf8

In spite of Black's unusual sixth move, the game is level.

The equalibrium is also maintained by 10. -- Ng4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. h3 Ngf6 13. Qg5.

11. Be2 Ng6 12. 0-0 Nh5

If 12. -- h3?! 13. g3 then:

• 13. -- b6 14. a3 Ng4 15. b4
• 15. -- f6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Rab1 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 and White has a clear advantage in space.
• 15. -- Bb7 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Rab1 and White will open up the queenside to her advantage.
• 13. -- Ng4 14. b3 f6 15. Be3 Qb6 16. Ne1 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 and White has clear advantage in mobility.

13. g3?!

This moves looks like a nervous reaction. A better idea for White is to develop a plan to counter Black's kingside aggression with some aggression of her own on the queenside.

If 13. Be3 Nhf4 then:

14. a3 Nxe2+ 15 Nxe2 f5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17.b4 and White has succeeded in moving in on the queenside.
• 14. Rfb1 f5 15. b4 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 f4 17. Bd2 and again White has expanded on the queenside successfully.

13. -- Bxg5 14. Qxg5 Nf6 15. Ne1

As it stands on the board, Black has a small advantage with his command of open lines, especially the c8/h3 diagonal.

If 15. Nxh4 Nxh4 16. gxh4 Bh3 17. Rfd1 Rh6 then:

• 18. h5 Nxh5 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8 20. Bxh5 Rxh5 21. Rd3 f5 and Black has a small plus in space on the kingside.
• 18. Rd3 Rg6 19. Qxg6 fxg6 20. Rxh3 Nh5 and Black has better mobility and ought to be able to begin generating threats.

15. -- Rh6 16. f4?

If 16. Ng2 then:

• 16. -- Qc7 17. b3 Qd7 18. gxh4 Qh3 19. f3 Nxh4 20. Nxh4 Rxh4 21. Rf2 is equal.
• 16. -- Qd7 17. gxh4 Qh3 18. f4 Nxf4 19. Nxf4 exf4 and Black has better control of open lines.

Black: Ivan Sokolov
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White: Tea Bosboom-Lanchava
Board w/o pieces

16. -- hxg3!

Watch this pawn go.

17. f5

If 17. fxe5 gxh2+ 18. Kh1 dxe5 then:

• 19. Rf2 b6 20. Rc1 Qe7 21. Qd2 Nf4 and Black has command of open lines and is dominating the kingside.
• 19. Nd3 Qe7 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Rxf6 Qe7 22. Rxg6 Rxg6 23. Qxe7+ Kxe7 and Black's Bishop and Queen's Rook will soon join the assault on the King
  s wing.

17. -- Nf4 18. Qxg7 gxh2+

Black dominates the game in everyway after 18. -- Rxh2 19. Rxf4 exf4 20. Nf3 Rh7 21. Qg5 Rh8 22. e5 dxe5.

19. Kh1 Rh7 20. Qg5 Qe7 21. Ng2

After 21. Rxf4 exf4 22. Nf3 Bd7 23. Qxf4 0-0-0, Black will be able to put all his forces against the White King.

21. -- Nxe2 22. Nxe2 Bd7 23. Ne3 Rh5 24. Qg2 Rh4 25. Qg5

If 25. Nc3 0-0-0 then:

• 26. Rf3 Rg8
• 27. Rg3 Rxg3 28. Qxg3 Nxe4 29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. b4 Qh4 and after teh exchange of Queens, the Black Rook will devour pawns.
• 27. Qf2 Nxe4 28. Nxe4 Rxe4 29. f6 Qf8 30. b4 cxb4 and, in addition to kingside threats, Black has a mass of queenside pawns on the march.
• 26. b3 Rg8 27. Qf3 Nh5 28. Ne2 Qg5 29. Qg2 Qxg2+ 30. Nxg2 Rxe4 and White can make no headway while applies more pressure.

25. -- Nxe4 26. Qg8+ Qf8 27. Qg2

If 27. Qxf8+ Kxf8 28. Rf3 Ke7 29. f6+ then:

• 29. -- Kd8
• 29. -- Nxf6 30. Raf1 Ne4 31. Rxf7+ Kd8 32. Rf8+ Be8 33. R1f7 b5 and Black is now expanding on the queenside.

30. Ng3 Rh3 31. Kg2 Ng5 32. Rff1 Kc7 and Black has everything going his way.27. -- 0-0-0 28. Rf3

Sacrificing the exchange would get White nowhere: 28. Nc3 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Qh8 30. Rf3 e4 31. Rg3 Qxc3.

28. -- Qh8 29. Ng3 Rg8 30. Re1 Rh3 31. Nef1 Bxf5 32. 0-1

32. Ree3 Qh4 33. b3 Bh7 34. a3 f5 35. Rxe4 fxe4 36. Re3 Bf5 and White has no good moves left. Mw. Bosboom-Lachava resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Vladislav Tkachiev - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Besançon

Vladislav Tkachiev
Champion of France, 2006
Photo: ChessBase.com

Vladislav Tkachiev vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
French National Championships, General Round 4
Besançon, August 2006

English Game: Symmetrical Reti Opening

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. g3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 6. Bg2 0-0 7. Nc3 Qc7 8. b3 d5 9. 0-0

If 9. Bxd5 then:

• 9. -- Rd8 10. 0-0 a6 11. Bg5 e6 12. Bg2 Qa5 13. Qd2 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. e3 e5 +=
• 9. -- Nc6 10. Bf4 e5 11. Ndb5 Qd7 12. Bg5 Nxd5 13. Nxd5 f6 14. Be3 +=

9. -- dxc4 10. Ncb5 Qb6 11. bxc4 a6?!

The text move chases awy the Knight, but leaves a hole at b6 that will be the source of a minute advantage for White for the rest of the game.

The equalibrium is established by 11. -- Rd8 12. Qb3 a6 13. Nc3 and then:

• 13. -- Qc7 14. Rd1 e5 15. Nf3 Rxd1+ 16. Nxd1
• 13. -- Qxb3 14. Nxb3 Nc6 15. Ba3 Ng4
• 13. -- Nfd7 14. e3 Nc6 15. Nd5 Nxd4 16. exd4 Qxd4 17. Ba3

12. Nc3 Rd8 13. Be3 e6

If 13. -- e5 then White maintains his advantage and control over b6 with:

• A 14. Nb3
• 14. -- Qc7 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 b6 17. Nd2 Qa7 18. Rb1 +=
• 14. -- Rxd1 15. Bxb6 Rxa1 16. Rxa1 +=
• B 14. Qb3
• 14. -- Qc7 15. Nc2 Nbd7 16. Rad1 Rb8 17. Nb4 +=
• 14. -- Qxb3 15. Nxb3 Nc6 16. Bb6 Rd6 17. Rad1 Rxd1 18. Rxd1 +=

14. Qb3 Qc7

If 14. -- Qxb3 15. Nxb3 then:

• 15. -- Ng4 16. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Nxe3 18. Rd8+ Bf8 19. fxe3 Nc6 20. Bxc6 and Black must spend some time to expel the intruding Rook from the back rank.
• 15. -- Nfd7 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Rfd1 Nde5 18. Rxd8+ Nxd8 19. Ne4 and White will be able to fill the b6 hole with his Bishop and possible establish an outpost for his Knight at d6.

15. Rad1 Nbd7 16. Na4

If 16. Nc2 then:

• 16. -- h6 17. Na4 e5 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Rd2 Re8 20. Rb1 Nc5 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Ne3 and it will be difficult for Black to remove the Knight for the hole at b6.
• 16. -- Rb8 17. Nb4 Ng4 18. Bg5 f6 19. Bf4 Nge5 20. Ne4 and White has firmer control of open lines, especially the d-file.

16. -- Ng4 17. Bg5 Bf6

If 17. -- Ngf6 18. f4 then:

• 18. -- h6 19. Bh4 Rb8 20. e4
• 20. -- e5 21. fxe5 Qxe5 with equality.
• 20. -- Nc5 21. Qb6 Qxb6 22. Nxb6 Re8 and White has an advatage by occupying the b6 hole.
• 18. -- Nc5 19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. e3 with equality.

18. Bxf6 Ndxf6 19. Qb6 Rd7

If 19. -- Qxb6 20. Nxb6 Rb8 then:

• 21. Nf3
• 21. -- Rf8 22. h3 Nh6 23. Ne5 Re8 24. Ned7 and White's advantage is clear in terms of the Knight at b6 and the Rook on the open d-file supporting the Knight at d7.
• 21. -- Bd7 22. h3 Nh6 23. g4 g5 24. h4 and White should win a piece.
• 21. h3 21. -- Ne5 22. Nb3 Re8 23. Rd6 and White's intruding pieces are making life very uncomfortable for Black.

20. c5

• If 20. Nc6 bxc6 21. Rxd7 Qxd7 22. Bxc6 then:
• 22. -- Rb8 23. Qxb8 Qxc6 24. Nb6 and White will be an exchange ahead after 24. -- Kg7 Nxc8
• 22. -- Qa7 23. Bxa8 Qxa8 24. Qd8+ Kg7 25. Nb6 Qc6 +/-
• else if 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Nb6 Rb8 22. Nf3 then:
• 22. -- Nd7 23. Nxd7 Bxd7 24. Rd4 and White still retains a slight advantage, but Black is in better shape than before.
• 22. -- Ne4 23. h3 Ngf6 24. Rd8+ Kg7 25. Rb1 and White's advantage in controlling the open lines and occupying the b6 hole is very clear.

20. -- Rb8?

Perhaps Black was so worried about White's pieces occupying b6 and attacking the Rook at a8 that he neglected to think of other points around the b7 pawn. This move loses.

Better is 20. -- Nd5! and now:

• 21. Qxc7 Rxc7
• 22. Nb3 Ngf6 23. Nb6
• 23. -- Nxb6 24. cxb6 and although the weak b6 point is now occupied by a White pawn instead of a piece, the pawn at b7 hinders Black's development.
• 23. Bxd5 exd5 24. Nb6 Rb8 and White has a small plus.
• 22. Bxd5 22. -- exd5 23. Nb6 Rb8 24. Nb3 and the occupation of the weak point is still a small advantage.
• 21. Qb3 21. -- Rb8 22. e4 Ndf6 23. f3 and White's pressure on b6 keeps Black tied down on the queenside.

Black: Maxime Vachier Lagrave
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White: Vladislav Tkachiev
Position after Black's 20th move

21. Qa7!

This move is made possible by Black's inaccurate 20th move.

On the other hand, if 21. Qxc7, then Black can equalize by 21. -- Rxc7 22. Rb1 Nd7 23. h3 Nge5.

21. -- e5

If 21. -- Re7 22. Rb1 then:

• 22. -- Bd7 23. c6
• 23. -- Bc8 24. cxb7 Rxb7 25. Bxb7 Bxb7 26. Nc5 and White wins material.
• 23. -- Ree8 24. Nc5 Ra8 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26. Nxb7 and White wins after 26. -- Bc8 27. Nd6 Rd8 28, c7!!
• 22. -- Nd5 23. Nc6 Qxc6 24. Qxb8 Qxa4 25. Qxc8+ Re8 26. Qxb7 and the c-pawn becomes lethal after 26. -- Qxa2 27. c6

22. Nc6 bxc6 23. Rxd7 1-0

After 23. Rxd7 Qxa7 24. Rxa7 Nd5 25. Rd1 Kg7 26. e4 Ndf6 27. Nb6 Be6 28. Rd6 Black's queesnside pawns fall. M. Vachier Lagrave resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Laurent Fressinet - Christian Bauer, French Championships, Besançon

Laurent Fressinet
Vice Champion of France, 2006
Photo: ChessBase.com

Laurent Fressinet vs. Christian Bauer
French National Championships, General Round 6
Besançon, August 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Four Knights' Opening

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Qb6 7. Nb3 e6 8. Bf4 Ne5 9. Be2 Bd7!?

The test move is a bit unusual. The Bishop at d7 blocks the Knight's retreat, if one is needed.

Black can get a comfortable game with 9. -- Be7 10. Be3 Qc7 11. 0-0 0-0 12. f4 Nc4 13. Bd4.

10. Qd2 a6 11. f3 Qc7 12. g4

If 12. Rd1 Be7 13. 0-0 then:

• 13. -- Bc6 14. Bg3 Rc8 15. f4 Ng6 16. f5 Ne5 17. Nd4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 13. -- 0-0 14. Bg5 Bc6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Qxd6 Qxd6 17. Rxd6 and the Rook at d6 gives White a clear advantage.

12. -- h6 13. h4 b5

The players have established an equalibrium, which could continue after 13. -- Be7 14. Rd1 Rc8 15. Nd4 Qb6 16. Rb1 Bd8 17. Be3 Qc7.

14. Bh2 Rc8 15. a3 Rb8

15. -- Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. Nd4 Rb8 18. Rb1 is level.

16. g5 Nh5

16. -- hxg5 17. hxg5 Nc4 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. Nd4 Nh7 would give Black a small plus in queenside space.

17. 0-0-0 g6 18. f4 Nc4 19. Qd3

If 19. Qd4 Bg720. e5 then:

• 20. -- Rc8 21. Rhf1 hxg5 22. hxg5 sxe5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 is equal.
• 20. -- dxe5? would open the position prematurely: 21. fxe5 Bc6 22. Nc5 Rc8 23. Nxa6 Qe7 24. Bxc4 bxc4 and White has an extra pawn and domination of open lines.

19. -- hxg5 20. hxg5 Qb6?

This move looks plausible, but White's kingside advance should not be neglected.

If 20. -- Bg7!, smartly putting the Bishop on an open diagonal leading to the White King, then:

• 21. Rhe1 Rc8 22. e5 dxe5 23. fxe5
• 23. -- Bxe5
• 24. Bxh5 Nxb2 25. Bxe5 Nxd3+ 26. Rxd3 Qc4 27. Bxh8 and White has only a slight advantage while Black has demloished White's Kingside pawns.
• 24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. Qe4 Ng3 26. Qg2 Nf5 and the game is level and White's Kingside threat has all but dissipated.
• 23. -- Nxe5 24. Qe4 f5 25. Qe3 f4 26. Qd2 and again, White no longer has a apatial advantage on the kingside.
• 21. Nd4 Rc8 22. Nb1 e5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Nd2 Nxd2 25. Bxh5 Nc4 and Black not only has dissipated White's kingside advantage, but has wrested control of open lines from White.

21. f5 Qe3+ 22. Kb1?

White misses 22. Qxe3! Nxe3 23. Rde1 Ng2 24. Reg1 Ne3 25. Bf4.

22. -- Rc8?

Black still needs to deal with White's threat to open up the Kingside to his advatage before seeking counterplay on the queenside.

At least two moves give Black a playable game:

• If 22. -- exf5 23. Rde1 then:
  • 23. -- Qxd3 24. Bxd3 f4 25. e5 Bg7 26. exd6+ Kd8 27. Nd1 Nxd6 with an equal game.
  • 23. -- Qxg5 24. exf5 Kd8 25. Ne4 Qxf5 26. Ref1 Nf4 27. Bxf4 Rxh1 28. Bg5+
  • 28. -- Kc7 29. Rxh1 and White has better piece mobitlity, but Black is in no immediate danger.
  • It is important in the last line to get the King off the back rank: if 28. -- Kc8? then 29. Rxh1 Bc6 (29. Qe5 fails to 30. Bf6) 30. Rh8 and White should win.
• else if 22. -- Qxg5 23. Rdg1 Qf6 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. e5 then:
  • 25. -- Nxe5 26. Bxe5 dxe5 27. Qxg6+ Qxg6 28. Rxg6 Nf4 29. Rxh8 is level.
  • 25. -- dxe5
  • 26. Ne4 Qf7 27. Na5 Nf4 28. Nxc4 bxc4 29. Nd6+ Ke7 30. Nxf7 cxd3 31. Nxh8 and Black has only two pawns for a Rook.
  • 26. Rxg6 Qf7 27. Ne4 Nf4 28. Nf6+ Qxf6 29. Rxf6 Nxd3 30. cxd3 Ne3 and Black is a pawn up.

23. fxg6 fxg6

Black: Christian Bauer
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White: Laurent Fressinet
Position after Black's 23rd move

24. e5!

Observe the artful way White passes the pawn.

24. -- Rg8

If 24. -- Qxd3 25. Bxd3 Rg8 26. exd6 then:

• 26. -- Nxa3+ 27. bxa3 Rxc3 28. Be5 and White control all the important focal points.
• 26. -- Bxd6 27. Bxc4 Bxh2 28. Bxb5 Bxb5 29. Nxb5 axb5 30. Rxh2 and White will begin devouring Black's weak pawns.

25. Bxh5 gxh5 26. Ne4 Kd8

If 26. -- Qxd3 27. cxd3 Ne3 28. Nf6+ Kf7 29. Nxg8 then:

• 29. -- Kxg8 30. Rd2 and White should win.
• 29. -- Nxd1 30. Nf6 Nxb2 31. Kxb2 Bc6 32. Rc1 +-

Now White passes the pawn.

27. exd6 Bg7 28. Nf6 Qxg5

White ins in all variations:

• If 28. -- Bxf6 29. gxf6 then:
• 29. -- Qh6 30. Rhf1 e5 31. Qe4 Rf8 32. Bxe5
• 29. -- Qxd3 30. cxd3 Nb6 31. f7 Rf8 32. Rdf1 Bc6 33. Rhg1 Bd5 34. Rg8
• else if 28. -- Qxd3 29. cxd3 Bxf6 30. gxf6 Nb6 31. Bg1 then:
  • 31. -- Na4 32. Rf1 b4 33. f7 Rf8 34. axb4 Rb8 35. Rxh5 Rxb4 36. Rg5
  • 31. -- Nd5 32. Rf1 Rf8 33. f7 b4 34. Nc5 Rc6 35. axb4 Bc8 36. Bd4

29. Nxg8 Nxb2 30. Qg3 Qxg3 31. Bxg3 Nxd1 32. Rxd1 Rc4 33. Rg1 Rg4 34. Bh4+ 1-0

If 34. Bh4+ Rxh4 35. Rxg7 Rg4 then:

• 36. Rh7 Rxg8 37. Nc5 Bc8 38. d7 Bxd7 39. Rxd7+ Kc8 40. Rh7 and White, now a piece to the good, begins harvesting Black pawns.
• 36. Rxg4 hxg4 37. Nd4 g3 38. Ne2 g2 39. Nf6 and, with an extra piece, White wins easily.

M. Bauer resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Friederike Wohlers-Armas - Almira Skripchenko, Besançon

Almira Skripchenko
Women's Champion of France, 2006
Photo: ChessBase.com


Note: This game is not yet available on a java-based chess viewer. All the games of the French National Championships are available in a PGN file from the Week in Chess, the site of the London Chess Center. This game is number 23 in the file of women's games available there.

Friederike Wohlers-Armas vs. Almira Skripchenko
French National Championships, Women's Round 4
Besançon, August 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 b6 6. f3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. e3 0-0 9. Bd3 Ba6!?

Developing the Bishop at b7 seems more natural. Instead, Black offers to exchange the Bishop, thus developing her Knight to the poor square a6 from where it will have to be redeloyed.

The advatage of the idea, of course, is that Black may have difficulty activating the Biship from b7 and White's Bishop is already looking splendid at d3.

10. Ne2

Initially, at least, White declines to exchange her good Bishop.

If 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. Ne2 c5 12. Rb1 Re8 13. 0-0 Nc7 then equality is established by:

• 14. Ng3 Qd7 15. Qc2 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rac8 17. Qd3 Qe6 18. Re1 a6 19. e4
• 14. Qa4 Ne6 15. Rd1 c4 16. Re1 Qc7 17. Qb5 Rad8

10. -- c5 11. Bxa6 Nxa6 12. 0-0 Nc7 13. Ng3 Ne6 14. Ra2

White would have a nasty kingside attack after 14. e4 Qc7 15. Rb1 Rfe8 16. e5 Nd7 17. f4 Rac8 18. f5 Nd8 19. Qg4.

14. -- b5

14. -- Re8 15. Rb2 Qd7 16. Nf5 b5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Nd4 is level.

15. Qe2 Qa5 16. Bd2

16. dxc5 Nxc5 17. Bd2 Qa4 18. Rb1 a6 19. Rb4 Qa5 20. c4 dxc4 21. Rxc4 and White has better piece placemewnt.

16. -- Qa4?

This Queen sortie should have given Black more trouble than it did.

Better is 16. -- Rab8 17. dxc5 Qc7 18. Nf5 Qxc5 19. Be1 Rb7 20. Qd2 and White's better pieces give her only a small plus.

17. Rb1 Rfb8 18. Nf5 Rb6

Other moves for Black are:

• 18. -- c4 19. Be1 a5 20. Bh4 Rb7 21. Qf2 Ne8 22. Ne7+ Kh8 23. Nxd5 and Black's Queen is in an embarrassing spot.
• 18. -- cxd4? 19. cxd4
  • 19. -- Qc4 20. Be1
  • 20. -- a6 21. Qd2 a5 22. Bg3 Rb6 23. Be5 and Black must move her Queen ori prepare to lose her; for example, 23. -- Nd7 24. Rc2 Nxe5 25. Rxc4 Nxc4.
  • 20. -- a5 21. Qd2 Nf8 22. Bg3 Rb6 24. a4 and the Queen, after much difficulty, escapes after 24. -- b4 25. Rc2 Qa6.
  • 19. -- Rb6 20. Rb4 Qa6 21. Qd3 Re8 22. Rc2 Qb7 23. Rb1 and, although the Queen is safe, White is in control of open lines.

As can be seen from these variations, Black would have trouble moving her Queen about if it were necessary.

19. dxc5 Nxc5 20. Rb4 Qa6 21. Nd4 Rab8 22. Be1 Na4 23. Qd3?!

White's position was getting stronger and Black had to play very carefully not to fall into a lost game. The text move gives Black some breathing room.

If 23. Ra1 then:

• 23. -- Ne8? 24. Qd1
• 24. -- Nd6 25. Nxb5
• 25. -- Rxb5 26. Rxa4 Qb6 27. Bf2 Qc5 28. Qd3 and White has a strong position that can withstand threats on the b-file; for example, 28. -- Rb3 29. Bg3 Rxc3 30. Bxd6 Qc6 31. Qd2.
• 25. -- Nxb5 26. Rxa4 Qc8 27. Qd3 Qe8 28. Rb1 and White has a strong position with control of open lines.
• 24. -- R8b7 25. Nxb5 Rxb5
• 26. Rxa4 Qe6 27. Bf2 a5 28. Rd4 and White controls open lines.
• 26. Qxa4 Qxa4 27. Rxa4 Re7 28. Rd1 and White's open lines give her access to the seventh rank.
• B) 23. -- Nc5 24. a4 Re8 25. Nxb5 Rbe6 26. Bf2 R6e7
• 27. Rab1 Rb7 28. Qd1 Qc6 29. Nd4 Qd7 30. a5 a6 31. Rb6 and White' control of the b-file gives here a significant advantage/
• 27. Qe1?! Nd3 28. Qd2 Nxb4 29. cxb4 is level.

Now Black is able to regroup.

23. -- g6 24. Bg3 Rc8 25. Ne2

If 25. Be1 then 25. -- Rc4 26. Ra1 Nc5 27. Qd2 Ne6 28. Bh4 Nxd4 29. cxd4 and White has only a small edge.

25. -- Rc4 26. Be5 Qb7 27. Nf4

If 27. Qd1 then:

• 27. -- Qc6 28. Bd4 Nc5
• 29. Nf4
• 29. -- Nfd7 30. Rd2 a5 31. Rb1 Rb8 and Black has begun to put stops in the open lines White has controled.
• 29. -- a5? 30. Bxf6 axb4 31. Nxd5 Rb7 32. axb4 Na4 and White's control of the long diagonal and the d-file give her a tremendous advantage.
• 29. Bxf6 Qxf6 30. Nf4 Qxc3 31. Nxd5 and White will hold her vital lines.
• 27. -- Qe7 28. Bd4 Nc5 29. Rab2 Na4 30. R2b3 Rxb4 31. Rxb4 and White is about to win a pawn.

27. -- Nd7 28. Bd4 Ndc5

Black, after laboring for much of the game under a disadvantage, has fought back and gained equality.

28. -- Rd6 29. Rd2 a5 30. Rxc4 dxc4 31. Qe2 Ndb6 32. e4 is an even game.

29. Qd2 Rd6 30. Be5 Rd7 31. Nd3

31. Bd4 a5 32. Rxc4 Nb3 33. Qf2 bxc4 34. Be5 Qb6 35. Qe1 f6 36. Bd4 woul maintain equality.

31. -- a6 32. Nxc5 Rxc5 33. Bd4 Rc8

33. -- Rc4 34. Rxc4 dxc4 35. e4 Nc5 36. Qg5 Ne6 37. Qe5 Nxd4 8. cxd4 Qc6 would give Black an advacing and protected passed pawn.

34. Qe1 Qc6 35. Qg3 f6 36. Qh4 Rf8 37. Qe1 Re8 38. Qh4 Re6 39. Qg4 Rde7 40. Rc2

40. Qf4 Re8 41. Rc2 Nb6 42. Ra2 Nc4 43. a4 Nxe3 44. axb5 axb5 45. Rb1 would give Black a strong position with her Rooks patrolling the queenside.

40. -- Qe8 41. Qf4 Rc6 42. g4 Nc5

42. -- Rf7 43. Qh6 Qe6 44. Qf4 Rfc7 45. g5 fxg5 46. Qxg5 Rf7 gives White equality.

43. Bxc5 Rxc5 44. Qd4 Qc6 45. Kf2

Black has a strong game after 45. Rb3 Rc4 46. Qd3 Qc5 47. Kf2 Kh8 48. h3 Ra4 49. Rd2 Re8 50. Qxd5 Qxe3+.

45. -- a5 46. Rb1 Rc4 47. Qd3 Kg7

47. -- Re8 48. Rb3 Kh8 49. h3 Re7 50. h4 a4 51. Rb4 Re5 with equality.

48. Rb3 Qc5 49. Re2?!

White falters. The e-pawn was adequately protected without the Rook. Black now gets a greater edge.

Black would have only a slight advantage after 49. Qd2 a4 50. Rb4 Rc7 51. Rxc4 Qxc4 52. h3 Qc5 53. Rb2 h6 54. Rb4 Qxc3 55. Qxc3 Rxc3 56. Rxb5 Rxa3.

49. -- a4 50. Rb4 Rxc3 51. Rxb5?

With this, White loses and fast.

White could hang on with 51. Qxb5 Rexe3 52. Qxc5 Rxe2+ 53. Kxe2 Rxc5 54. Kd3 when her cetrally posted King saves the day.

Black: Almira Skripchenko
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White: Friederike Wohlers-Armas
Position after White's 51st move

51. -- Qc7!

It is time to go in for the kill.

52. Qxd5 Qxh2+ 53. Ke1 Qg1+ 54. 0-1

All that remains is 54. Kd2 Qc1#. Mme. Wohlers-Armas resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Fernando Peralta - Nikolaos Kalesis, Acropolis Open, Athens

Fernando Peralta
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish language)

Fernando Peralta vs. Nikolaos Kalesis
Acropolis Open, Round 2
Athens, August 2006

Queen's Gambit Exchange: Orthodox Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 Be7 7. e3 0-0 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. Nge2

The position is encountered often and judged equal long ago.

One way the maintain the equalibrium is 9. Nf3 Re8 10. 0-0 h6 11. Bf4. The text, through about move 15, is amother.

9. -- Re8 10. 0-0 Nf8 11. f3

If 11. Rac1 then:

• 11. -- b6 12. f3
• ]12. -- h6 13. Bh4 c5 14. Rfd1 c4 15. Bf5 Bxf5 16. Qxf5 Qd7 and a level game.
• 12. -- c5?!
• 13. dxc5 13. -- bxc5 14. Rfd1
• 14. -- Rb8 15. Bb5 Bd7 16. Bxd7 Qxd7 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nxd5 and White command of the c- and d-files gives him a strong game.
• 14. -- Bb7 15. Bb5 N6d7 16. Bf4 White controls open lins and has Blacks position pinned down.
• 13. Nf4 cxd4 14. exd4 h6 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Ncxd5 Bd4+ and Black has a small advantage in command of open lines.
• 11. -- h6
• 12. Bh4 12. -- b6 13. Rfd1 a5 14. Na4 Bd7 15. Qb3 b5 16. Nc5 a4 17. Qc3 and White has better activity for his Bishops but Black has more queenside space.
• 12. Bxf6 Bxf6
• 13. Ng3 13. -- b6 14. Rfd1 is equal
• 13. e4?! dxe4 14. Nxe4 Bxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Nc5 and Black's radiant centralized gives him a clear advantage.

11. -- Nh5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. e4 dxe4

If 13. -- Be6 14. Rac1 Rad8 then:

• 15. e5 c5 16. Bb5 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bd7 18. f4
• 18. -- Bxb5
• 19. Ncxb5 and White has a small spatial advantage.
• 19. Ndxb5 Qc5+ is an equal game.
• 18. -- Qc5 19. Qf2give White an advatage in space and pawn structure.
• 15. Rfd1 dxe4 16. fxe4 Bg4 17. Rf1 Qg5 and Black has some initiative owing to the placement of his pieces on the kingside.

14. fxe4 Bg4

If 14. -- Nf6 15. Rac1 Be6 16. Nf4 Ng4 then:

• 17. Rf3 17. -- Qb4 18. Nfe2 Rad8 19. h3 Nf6 20. Rcf1 is level.
• 17. Qe2? Qd6! 18. d5 cxd5 19. Bb5 Re7 and Black has a strong advantage in piece placement with the possibility of an attack on the White King.

15. Rf2 Ne6

If 15. -- Qh4 16. Raf1 Re7 then:

• 17. Bc4
• 17. -- Nf6?! 18. g3
• 18. -- Qh3 19. e5 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 and White is conjuring up some real threats on the f-file, athe a2/g8 diagsonal and the center.
• 18. -- Qg5 19. e5 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 is very much like the main variation.
• 17. -- Ne6 18. d5 cxd5 19. exd5 Ng5 20. d6 Rd7 is level.
• 17. b4 a6 18. a4 Nf6 19. e5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 cxd5 21. Nf4 with a small advantage for White in piece placement.

16. Raf1 Rf8 17. e5 g6

If 17. -- h6 18. h3 Bxe2 19. Nxe2 Rad8 20. Bc4 then:

• 20. -- g6 21. Rxf7 Rxf7 22. Qxg6+ Nhg7 23. Rf6 and White is applying pressure. but so far Black hasn't cracked.
• 20. -- b5 21. Bxe6 Qxe6 22. g4 winning the Knight.

18. Ne4 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Ng5?

The move invites an attack on f7. Black had several moves at his disposal that didn't lose.

• If 19. -- Qb4 then 20. Bc4 Nxd4 21. Qd3 Nf5 is level.
• else if19. -- Nxd4?! 20. Qe3 then:
  • 20. -- Ne6 21. g4 Nhf4 22. Rxf4 Nxf4 23. Qxf4 give White a clear advantage, but he still has some work to do to win.
  • 20. -- Rad8? 21. g4 Qxe5 22. Nf6+ wins the Queen.
  • 20. -- Nf5
  • 21. Rxf5! gxf5 22. Rxf5 Rad8 23. Rxh5 and this is a good time for Black to resign.
  • 21. Qc5?! Qxc5 22. Nxc5 b6 23. Bxf5 gxf5 24. Na6 and now Black should be able to hold on for the half-point.
• else if 19. -- Rad8 20. Nd6 Nxd4 21. Qg4 Qxe5 22. Nxf7 Rxf7 23. Bc4 then White wins the Rook at f7.

20. Bc4

Attacking f7.

20. -- b5 21. Bb3

White can also win with 21. Nxg5 Qxg5 22. Bxf7+ Kh8 23. e6.

21. -- Ne6

No better is 21. -- Kh8 22. Nxg5 Qxg5 23. Bxf7 Rad8 24. Qe4.

22. Qe3 Qh4

If 22. -- a5 then 23. g4 wins the Knight.

Black: Nikolaos Kalesis
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White: Fernando Peralta
Position after Black's 22nd move

23. Rxf7!!

The exchange sacrifrice results in White winning a whole Rook.

23. -- Rxf7 24. Bxe6 1-0

24. -- Raf8 25. Ng5 Ng7 26. Bxf7+ Rxf7 27. Nxf7. Kalesis resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Tamaz Gelashvili - Athanasios Mastrovasilis, Acropolis Open, Athens

Tamaz Gelashvili
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Tamaz Gelashvili vs. Athanasios Mastrovasilis
Acropolis Open, Round 4
Athens, August 2006

Zukertort Opening: Krause Defense

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5

This is the Krause Defense, also called the Queen's Gambit Reversed.

3. dxc5 e6 4. e3 Bxc5 5. a3 Nf6 6. c4 0-0

Black continues to develop quietly. 6. -- dxc4 Bxc4 would transpose into a traditional Queen's Gambit Accepted.

7. b4!?

White displays his aggressive mood early. 7. Nc3 b6 8. b4 Be7 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Qxd5 exd5 is objectively better, but something likely to yield an early draw.

Fritz says that Black has a slight plus. I usually defer to my silicon friend, but I say this position is level and full of potential for both sides.

7. -- Be7 8. Bb2 a5?!

The equalibrium can be re-established by 8. -- b6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Nbd2 a5 11. b5 Bb7 12. Rc1 Nd7 13. Bc4 Rc8 14. 0-0.

Instead, Black fights back against White's queenside pawns.

9. b5 Nbd7 10. Nbd2

10. Nc3 Nb6 11. cxd5 Nbxd5 12. Qd4 Bd7 13. Rd1 Nxc3 14. Qxc3 is even.

10. -- Nc5 11. Be2 b6 12. cxd5

12. 0-0 Bb7 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Qc2 is level.

For the first time since before White's seventh move, Fritz and I are agreed that the game position is even.

12. -- Nxd5 13. 0-0

13. Rc1 Bb7 14. 0-0 Rc8 15. Qc2 is equal.

13. -- Bb7 14. Nc4 Bf6 15. Nfe5

The equalibrium is maintained by 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qc2 Rac8 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Rfd1.

15. -- Rc8 16. Bf3 Qc7 17. Rc1 Rfd8 18. Qc2 a4 19. Qe2 Nb3 20. Rc2

If 20. Rcd1 then the following yield a level game:

• 20. -- Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Qc2 22. Rfe1 Qxe2 23. Rxe2
• 23. -- Nc7 24. Rc2 Bxf3 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. gxf3 Nc5
• 23. -- Nb4 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. h4
• 20. -- Qc5 21. Bh5 Bxe5 22. Nxe5 f6

20. -- Qb8 21. Be4 Nc5

Black: Athanasios Mastrovasilis
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White: Tamaz Gelashvili
Position after Black's 21st move

22. Bxh7+!

White decided things were a little too quiet.

If 22. Bf3 then the following are good for an equal game:

• 22. -- Qc7 23. Bh5
• 23. -- Rf8 24. Rfc1 Nb3 25. Rd1 Nc5 26. Bf3
• 23. -- g6 24. Bf3 Bg7 25. Rd1 f6 26. Nd3 e5 27. Nd2
• 22. -- Ne7 23. Bh5 Ng6 24. Nxg6 fxg6 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. Nxb6 Rc7 27. Bg4

In spite of the loud noise, the sacrifice will only yiled White a small advantage. But it makes the game a lot more interesting than it otherwise would have been in more ways than one.

22. -- Kxh7 23. Qh5+ Kg8 24. Qxf7+ Kh7 25. Nxb6!

White now has three pawns for the Bishop.

If 25. Qg6+ Kg8 26. Ng4 Rf8 then:

• 27. Be5 Bxe5 28. Ncxe5
• 28. -- Rf6 29. Nxf6+ Nxf6 30. Ng4 Nxg4 31. Qxg4 and the position favors White with his extra pawns.
• 28. -- Rc7?! 29. Nh6+ Kh8 30. Nhf7+ Rfxf7 31. Nxf7+ Kg8 32. Nd6 and White will be able generate threats more quickly than Black
• 27. Nh6+ Kh8 28. Nf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxf7 Bxb2 30. Rxb2 Nf6 and again White has a slight advantage.

25. -- Nxb6 26. Nc6!

White gets nothing from 26. Qg6+ Kg8 27. Qf7+ Kh7 28. Rxc5 Rxc5 29. Qg6+.

26. -- Bxc6 27. Bxf6 Rd7 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. bxc6 Rd5?

If 29. -- Rxc6 30. Bd4 Rd5 31. Qg6 then:

• 31. -- Qb7 32. Bxg7 Qf7 33. Qxf7+ Kxf7 34. Bb2 +=
• 31. -- Qf8 32. Bxg7 Qf5 33. Qg3 Kh7 34. Bb2 +/-

30. Qg4 Qc7 31. Bd4?

White misses 31. e4 Nxe4 32. Bxg7 Rg5 33. Qxe6+ Kxg7 34. Qxe4, after which he stood excellent chances of going on for a win.

31. -- Qe7 32. Rxc5 Rxc5 33. Bxc5 Qxc5 34. Qxe6+ Kh8 35. Rd1 Qxc6 36. Qg4 Nd7?!

If 36. -- Re8 37. Rb1 then:

• 37. -- Rf8 38. Qh4+ Kg8 39. Qb4 Qc2 40. Qb2 Rc8 41. h3 is equal.
• 37. -- Kg8 38. Rd1 Qc2 39. h3 Rf8 40. Qe6+ Kh7 is level
• 37. -- Rc8 38. Rd1 Re8
• 39. Qf5 Kg8 40. h3
• 40. -- Rf8 41. Qb1 and White's adavantage is insignificant.
• 40. -- Ra8 41. Qd3 gives White little with which to work.
• 39. Rb1 39. -- Kg8 40. Rd1 Qe4 41. Qxe4 Rxe4 42. Rb1 Nd5 43. Rd1 is level.

37. h3

At last, White begins to move his pawn mass.

37. e4 Kg8 38. Qe2 Ne5 39. h3 Nf7 40. Qe3 is an equal game.

37. -- Nf6 38. Qf5 Re8 39. g4 Qe4 40. Qxe4 Nxe4 41. Rd4 Nc5?

The action is on the kingside with White's mass of pawns; that is where the Knight should be if Black is to have any hope of salvaging this game.

Correct is 41. -- Ng5 42. Rxa4 Nxh3+ with a likely draw in all variations:

• 43. Kg2 Ng5
• 44. Rc4 Nf7
• 45. a4 Kg8 46. Kg3 Kf8
• 45. Kg3 Nd6 46. Rc6 Ne4+ =
• 44. f4 Ne4 45. Kf3 Nd2+
• 43. Kf1 Kh7 44. Rb4 Ra8 45. a4 Ng5

42. Rc4 Re5

White wins in all variations: if 42. -- Nd3 43. Rxa4 Rf8 44. Rd4 Nxf2 45. h4 then:

• 45. -- Kh7 46. a4 Rf3 47. Kg2
• 47. -- Rf7 48. a5 Rf6 49. g5 Rf7
• 50. a6 Kg6 51. Rf4 Ra7 52. Kxf2
• 50. h5 g6 51. h6 Rf5 52. Rd7+ Kh8 53. a6 Ne4 54. a7 Ra5 55. Rd8+
• 47. -- Rxe3 48. Kxf2 Ra3 49. h5 Kg8 50. g5 Rh3 51. g6 Kf8 52. Rf4+ Ke8 53. Rf5 Rh4 54. a5
• 45. -- Rf3 46. Kg2 Rxe3 47. Kxf2

43. h4 g6 44. Kg2 Kg7 45. Kf1

The text is better than 45. f4 Rd5 46. Kf3 then:

• 46. -- Kh6 %47. h5 g5 48. f5 Kg7 49. e4 Re5 50. Ke3 Nd7 51. Rxa4 Nf6 52. Kf3 Rc5 and Black can think about a draw.
• 46. -- Nd3 47. Rxa4 Ne1+ 48. Kf2 Nc2 49. Ke2 Rd7 50. e4 and White's mobile pawns give him a clear plus.

45. -- Rd5 46. Ke2 Nb3 47. Rxa4 Rd2+ 48. Kf3

White would also blow the game with 48. Ke1 Ra2 49. f4 Rh2 50. Rc4 Rxh4 after which he may have to settle for a draw.

48. -- Nc5 49. Rc4

If 49. Rd4 Ra2 50. Rd5 Nb3 51. Rd7+ Kf6 52. g5+ Ke5 then:

• 53. Re7+ Kd5 and White will have to win all over again.
• 53. h5? gxh5 54. g6 Rxa3 55. g7 Ra8 and Black actually has a slight plus.
• 53. Rg7 Nd2+ 54. Kg4 Nc4 55. Kg3 Nd6 56. Rxg6 Nf5+ 57. Kg4 Rxf2 58. Rg8 Nxe3+ with equality.

49. -- Nd3 50. Rd4 Ne1+

No move by Black does him any good. No matter what, he loses.

If 50. -- Rxf2+ 51. Kg3 Rd2 then:

• 52. a4 52. -- Kf6 53. a5
• 53. -- Rd1 54. a6 Rg1+ 55. Kh2 Ra1 56. Rxd3
• 53. -- Ke5 54. a6 Ra2 55. Rxd3
• 52. Rd6 Rd1 53. h5
• 53. -- Rg1+ 54. Kh2
• 53. -- gxh5 54. gxh5 Kh7 55. a4 Rg1+ 56. Kh2

51. Kg3 Re2 52. a4

The text is better than 52. Rd1 Kf6 53. a4 Ke5 54. h5 gxh5 55. gxh5 Kf5 56. h6 Kg6 57. Rd6+ Kh7 58. a5 Ra2 59. a6 Ra4 60. f4.

52. -- Nc2 53. Rc4 Ne1 54. Rc7+ Kf6 55. g5+ Kf5

If 55. -- Ke5 56. a5 Ra2 57. Re7+ Kd5 58. Rg7 then:

• 58. -- Nd3 59. f4 Ke4 60. Rxg6 Kxe3 61. Re6+ and nothing will stop the pawns.
• 58. -- Rxa5 59. Rxg6 Ra1 60. Rg8 Ke6 61. g6 Kf6 62. h5 Ra5 63. Rf8+ and the Rook beckons the pawns forward.

56. Re7 Nd3

56. -- Nc2 57. Rf7+ Ke5 58. Rf6 Nb4 59. Rxg6 Ra2 60. f4+ +-

57. f3 Nf2 58. e4+ 1-0

No matter how he plays, Black must lose a piece. Mastrovasilis resigns.

[nickgutierrez]

11. Is there/will there be/has there been a website where you post these?

I love seeing them here, don't get me wrong, but it seems to me that these reports could very easily merit a pretty successful website on their own. :)

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Yes -- Democratic Underground.

Thank you for the good word.