The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for September 24: Clash of Champions

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending September 24



Photo: Max Euwe (seated, foreground) and Alexander Alekhine (standing, foreground)
in one of their two World Title Matches (1935 and 1937) played in various Dutch cities
from Chess Graphics


Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events
Post 4: Bonus Games: Kramnik-Leko and Topalov-Ponomariov

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending September 24

Clash of Champions begins in Elista: Kramnik wins opening round



Classical world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia defeated FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the first game of their 12-game match in Elista, Kalmykia, yesterday to determine which of them is the one and only world chess champion.

The game lasted 72 moves. Most observers thought the game was a dead draw for the first 57 moves. On move 40, Kramnik implicitly offered a draw by repeating moves, but Topalov deviated from the pattern and play continued.



Kramnik and Topalov at the start of the first game Saturday
Photo: ChessBase.com

On his 57th move, Topalov, playing Black, committed one of his worst blunders ever.

Black: Veselin Topalov
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 57. Ra2a4

Can't see the diagram? Please click here.

Topalov in this position played 57. -- f5, depriving the pawn at e5 of protection and allowing the White Knight at c6 to take the e-pawn. Soon after, a second Black pawn fell and Kramnik, one of the finest endgame players of our time, found himself two pawns up with an easy win.

Plans for the reunification of the world title were first laid out in 2002 in a document known as the Prague Agreement. After many bumps in the road, false starts and the retirement from organized chess of Garry Kasparov, the former world champion who was to participate competitively in the reunification process, the match is finally taking place.

Until the opening move yesterday, the only other match played to fulfill the Prague Agreement was a 2004 match between Kramnik and Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko for what became known under the Prague agreement as the "classical" world championship.

Topalov's claim to the world title comes from winning a strong tournament in San Luis, Argentina, a year ago. Eight of the world's leading grandmasters competed. Topalov ran away with first prize in the tournament, winning six games and drawing eight without a loss for ten points in 14 rounds.

Kramnik's claim to the title comes from defeating former world champion Garry Kasparov in a 14-game match held in London in October 2000. Kramnik was invited to participate in San Luis, but declined, preferring face the winner of the tournament in a match; in addition, Kramnik was about to undergo treatment for spinal arthritis and was curtailing his chess activities. He played no chess until he returned as a member of the Russian team at the Torino Olympiad in May. There, Kramnik won a gold medal for highest individual performance rating. In July, Kramnik underscored not only his return to chess but his return to top form by winning first prize in one of the most prestigious of all annual tournaments, the Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund.

The schism that split the world championship began in 1993 when Kasparov and his official challenger, British grandmaster Nigel Short, became impatient with the arrogance and incompetence of FIDE, the governing body of world chess, in organizing their match, that they broke away and organized the match themselves. FIDE did not recognize the legitimacy of the match and stripped Kasparov of his title, which he won from Anatoly Karpov in 1985. However, Kasparov, considered by many to be the greatest chess play of all time, was such a giant in the chess world that it was difficult to take FIDE's action against him seriously. FIDE tried different formats of choosing a world champion, but none of them really worked. Meanwhile, Kasparov had formed an upstart chess body to organize his version of the world title, but found that finding sponsors was difficult.


Magnus Carlsen defeats Simen Agdestein to take Norwegian Championship

Magnus Carlsen, age 15, is the new national champion of Norway.

Carlsen his chief rival in Norwegian chess, grandmaster and former world cup football star Simen Agdestein, in a playoff held during the past week in Oslo.

Agdestein was once young Carlsen's trainer and is the author of a best-selling book about the prodigy. In addition, Agdestein is the only person ever to represent one country in both the chess olympiad and on his national team in international football's world cup.



Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com

The main event of the Norwegian National Championship was held in Moss, in southern Norway, in July. Carlsen and Agdestein each scored 7 points in the nine-round Swiss system event.

The playoffs consisted of two regular games played Tuesday and Wednesday with rapid and blitz rounds scheduled for Thursday should the first two game failed to produce a winner. Both regular games ended in draws. On Thursday, young Carlsen won both rapid games, making the blitz games unnecessary.

Last year featured the same players in the same story line, but with with Agdestein emerging as the national champion. This seems appropriate, since most consider the pair the two best players Norway has ever produced. Agdestein has always known that it would be only a matter of time, and sooner rather than later, before his former pupil surpassed him.

It has come to pass.


Nino Khurtsidze wins Szeged Cup

Nino Khurtsidze, one of several strong women players from the Caucasus Republic of Georgia, took first place in 3rd annual Szeged Cup in Szeged, Hungary.



Nino Khurtsidze receives her trophy in Szeged
Photo: ChessBase.com

Ms. Khurtsidze scored 7½ points in 10 rounds, as did 16-year-old Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia. Ms. Khurtsidze was awarded first prize by accumulating a greater number of tiebreaker points than Ms. Muzychuk. Ms. Khutsidze won 7 games, lost one ad drew one while Ms. Muzychuk won 6 and drew 3 without a loss.



Anna Muzychuk finished second on tiebreaker points
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Ticia Gara of Hungary finished third with 7 points.

Earlier this year, Ms. Khurtsidze made the quarter-final round of the women's world championship in Ekaterinaberg before being eliminated.




Viktor Korchnoi takes senior world title

Viktor Korchnoi, the grand old man of chess and considered by many to be the greatest player of all time never to be world champion, is now the senior world champion.



Viktor Korchnoi
Photo: Four Nations Chess League

Korchnoi easily won the Senior World Championship Tournament in Valle d’Aosta, a resort in the Italian Alps. He scored 9 points in 11 rounds.

Korchnoi, who turned 75 in March, won 7 and drew 4 without a loss. He was in complete command in the later rounds of the tournament. He entered the final round needing only a draw to assure himself of a clear first place finish 126-player Swiss system event.

Vlastimil Jansa, 63, of the Czech Republic finished second with 8½ points. He and Korchnoi first crossed swords in 1969. The two met in the tenth round at Valle d’Aosta and played to a draw.

Korchnoi played two matches for the world title, both against then-champion Anatoly Karpov, in 1978 and 1981. In the 1978 match, Korchnoi narrowly missed winning the title.





Vachier-Lagrave wins in Lausanne

Sixteen-year-old French grandmaster Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. the youngest participant in the field, took first prize at the annual Young Masters' Tournament in Lausanne, Vaud Canton, Switzerland, by defeating China's Wang Yue, 19, in the final round of matches earlier this week.



Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

The final round was scheduled for two games with rapid game tiebreakers if necessary. Vachier-Lagrave and Wang split the two regular games. but the young Frenchman the first two rapid games to take the tournament championship.

The Lausanne event is an annual showcase of young chess talent. The oldest participant this year was Tatiana Kosintseva of Russia, who turned 20 in April. Other competitors were Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan, Ukraine's Alexander Areshchenko, Polish grandmaster Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Bosnia's Borki Predojevic and Koneru Humpy of India.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update: Kramnik wins Second Game

Classical world champion Vladimir Kramnik, playing Black, defeated FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov in the second game of the world championship reunification match moments ago in Elista, the capital of the autonomous Russian republic of Kalmykia.

The game lasted 63 moves.

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
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White: Veselin Topalov
Final position after 63. -- Re1e3

Kramnik has jumped to a 2-0 lead in the scheduled twelve round event.

Most observers would have been more concerned about Kramnik's chances of winning had Topalov won the first two games than they are about Topalov's chances in the present cicumstances. Topalov is a notoriously slow starter and strong finisher. An exception to that rule was the FIDE World Championship Tournament a year ago in San Luis, Argentina, where Topalov won 6 of his first seven games was able to coast comfortably to a clear first place finish by drawing his remaining games.

Nevertheless, Topalov will need at least a draw Tuesday. In a twelve game match against a solid technician like Kramnik, it is unlikely that he could come back if he goes down by three games.

The players have a rest day after every even numbered game. The match resumes Tuesday with Kramnik playing White.

[Lithos]

13. Korchnoi

Was just slightly out of phase. I think he would have done it had he started out 10 or so years earlier. He did quite well against Botvinnik and Tal who were one time World Champions. But by the time the Soviets felt he was ready, it was the era of Karpov who was the better player.

L-

[Jack Rabbit]

14. As chess players go, Korchnoi was something of a late bloomer

Korchnoi was a strong competitor in World Championship events from the sixties. Also, he first won the Soviet Championship (about the next best thing to being world champion in those days) in 1960 and won it three more times before defecting to the West in 1976.

From 1948 to the mid-sixties, the official challenger to the world champion was chosen through a series of zonal tournaments, one big interzonal tournament and the top finishers of that, along with some seeded players, in a candidates' tournament, the winner of which would go on to play a match for the world title against the reigning champion. Korchnoi finished high in the candidates events, except in 1964 when he didn't compete. In the mid-sixties, FIDE reformed the candidates' cycle, replacing the candidates' tournament with a series of matches. Korchnoi was always playing in them; he lost the final match to Boris Spassky in 1968 and to Anatoly Karpov in 1974 and lost the semi-final match to Tigran Petrosian in 1971. He was the official challenger to Karpov in 1978 and 1981. He lost the final match in 1983 to Garry Kasparov.

Note that all of the Korchnoi's opponents named in the above paragraph reigned as world champion at one time or another.

If there is one thing a totalitarian government does well, it is produce sports champions. The Soviet chess program is one of the most successful examples. Consequently, it was very hard for a great Soviet player to go all the way to the top, simply because there were so many great Soviet players. Apart from Korchnoi and those who actually reigned as world champion, names like Keres, Bronstein, Boleslavsky, Geller, Polugaevksy, Stein and Taimanov come to mind. Of those, Paul Keres, like Korchnoi, is considered by some to be the greatest player never to be world champion.

The Soviet Chess Federation was also notorious for playing favorites (it helped to be a loyal Communist, like Botvinnik and Karpov) and fixing games (the Petrosian-Korchnoi game in the candidates' tournament in Curaçao 1962 was a infamous example; apparently both men had a distaste for the fix and protested by completing the entire game in a little more than half an hour, leaving little doubt that the game was pre-arranged). This dark side of Soviet chess is probably the main reason why Korchnoi defected to the West in spite of all the Soviet chess system could offer.

A good resource for the benefits and disadvantages of the Soviet chess system is The Sorcerer's Apprentice by David Bronstein. Bronstein was a low-level dissident who hated the Communist Party after his father spent eight years in Stalin's salt mines on trumped up changes; Bronstein could have joined the Party with no difficulty but pointedly refused.

ON EDIT

I'm getting one of Korchnoi's games from Valle d’Aosta ready for next week.

In other news, the third game of the WCC reunification match in Elista ended in a draw today. Kramnik leads 2½-½. Topalov will play White tomorrow.

[Lithos]

15. The Korchnoi should prove interesting

As I recall he went from being an aggressive attacker to a very wicked defender, a style which I like.

Was wondering if you've ever thought about comparing the style of play today versus the 80's versus the 60's. The opening preferences have changed dramatically along with how players approach the game. I don't think Fischer would have done as well today, his style difference - going against the grain - is what set him apart. Too many players seem to be more fluid these days. At this point I'm really an outsider; the language has changed from when I was a kid playing before Fischer took the Championship.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. There are quite a few differences

I think what made Fischer successful was his will to win. In that respect, he would have been successful in any era, as would Lasker, Alekhine and Kasparov for the same reason.

Korchnoi also had this characteristic. He was one of the most versatile players ever; he could attack or defend equally well. Andrew Soltis described his style as "provocateur chess"; I understand this to be similar to Lasker's style -- somewhere in that gray area where the opening passes to the middle game, one plays some hokey move that sets one's opponent on his own resources. Come and get me if you can -- that move I just made isn't the best, you know it and I know it, but you have to figure out what's wrong with it and what's the best way to exploit the weaknesses.

Lasker always seemed to be at his best against a reckless attacker like Janowski or Marshall; perhaps it is noteworthy that Korchnoi was one of the few grandmasters who had a lifetime positive score against Tal, the greatest reckless attacker of them all ("There are two kinds of sacrifices," Tal once observed, "sound ones and mine").

One thing that stays consistent over the years is a running dialog between the romantic aggressive players and the classical solid technicians. Karpov, of the latter group, played many world championship matches, but only against two opponents: Korchnoi and Kasparov, both of the former school. Such a dialog is taking place now in Elista; after three games, the technician is winning the argument this time. The technician is the player who seeks to make the best move at all times. To win, he simply waits for his opponent to make a mistake. The aggressor isn't that patient. "If you wait for luck to show up," said Tal, "life becomes very boring." Don't wait for luck to hand you an opportunity gift-wrapped. Create you own opportunities, Make that hokey move.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and features

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, 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 link.


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

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from Current and Recent Events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Viktor Korchnoi - Sergei Tiviakov, Open Tournament, Banyoles (Catalonia, Spain)
Vladimir Malakhov - Ernesto Inarkiev, Russlian National Championship (Semi-Final), Tomsk
Nigel Short - Mark Hebden, European Union Championship, Liverpool
Kata Szonyi - Nino Khurtsidze, 3rd Szeged Cup, Szeged (Hungary)
Wamg Yue - Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Young Masters' Tournament, Lausanne

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Korchnoi - Tiviakov, Open Tournament, Banyoles (Catalonia, Spain)

Victor Korchnoi
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Viktor Korchnoi vs. Sergei Tiviakov
Muratet Open, Round 8
Banyoles, Catalonia, August 2006

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 e6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d4 c6

• Another satisfactory line is 6. -- 0-0 7. Nc3 d5.

7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Qa4+

• 9. Bf4 Nc6 10. Rc1 0-0 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. Bxe5 Rc8 is level.

9. -- Nfd7 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rfc1 0-0 12. Qd1

• The position is balanced. Black has a firmer grip on the center, but White has a lead in development and his pieces are better placed.
• If 12. Nd1 then 12. -- b5 13. Qb3 Nc6 14. Rc2 Na5 15. Qd3 Nc6 is even; Black has a grip on the center, while White has better control of open diagonals.

12. -- b5 13. a4 b4 14. Nb1 Nc6 15. Nbd2 Qb6?!

• Black takes aim at the d-pawn, but this is a faulty plan. The pawn is well protected.
• Better is 15. -- Rc8 16. Nb3 f5 17. Rc2 g5 18. Bd2 g4 19. Ne1 Bf6 20. e3 when Black has more space but White has command of the c-file.

16. a5 Qa7

• Black wants to keep the Queen trained on White's d-pawn, but White will have no trouble reinforcing it, which he doesn on his very next move.
• Better is 16. -- Qd8 17. Nb3 Rc8 18. Rc2 Nf6 19. Rac1 with equality.

Black: Sergei Tiviakov
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White: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 16. -- Qb6a7

17. Nb3!

• Page Nimzovich. Instead of having one defender guarding the d-pawn, White suddenly has three.

17. -- Rac8 18. Rc2 Ncb8

• White intends to double the Rooks on the c-file. Black must take the sting out of this by exchanging one pair of Rooks and arranging his pieces in such a way as to give the remain White Rook nowhere to go on the c-file.
• The text is better than 18. -- Rfd8 19. Rac1 Nf8 20. Bg5 f6 21. Bf4 Ng6 Qd2.

19. Rac1 Rxc2

• Black has acommplished his goals.
• If 19. -- h6 then:
  • 20. Rc7 Rxc7 21. Rxc7
  • 31. -- Bd8
  • 22. Rc2 22. -- Nc6
  • 23. Bd6 Re8 24. Rc1 Ba8 and a level game.
  • 23. Qd2 Nf6 24. e3 g5 and Black has the initiative.
  • 22. Rc1 Be7 23. Rc7 Rc8 and the position will remain balanced as long as White maintains command of the c-file.
  • 21. -- Rc8 22. Qc2 Re8 23. Qc1 Bd8 24. Rc2 and WHite's command of the c-file gives him a slight plus.
  • 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Rxc8+ Bxc8 22. Qc2 Qb7 and the position is even.

20. Rxc2 Bc6

• Black would do better to preserve his pieces and try to get some counterplay in the center.
• 20. -- Nc6 is better: 21. Qd3 Rc8 22. Ng5 Nf8 23. e4
• 23. -- h6< 24. exd5 exd5 25. Nf3 Ng6[/i> is balanced.
• 23. -- Bxg5 24. Bxg5 25. dxe4 Bxe4 and White has better command of open lines.

21. Bxb8 Nxb8 22. Qc1 Bb7

• The text is better than 22. -- Qa8 23. Ne5 Bb7 24. Nc5 Bd8 25. Qa1 when White's advanced Knights have a paralyzing effect on Black's queenside.

23. Ne5 Bd6

• If 23. -- Qa8 24. Nc5 then:
• 24. -- Bxc5 25. dxc5
• 25. -- f6 26. Nd3 Nc6 27. b3 Qd8 28. Qe3 Re8 and Black should be able to push in the center.
• 25. -- Rc8? 26. Qf4
• 26. -- f6 27. Nd3 b3 28. Rc3
• 28. -- Nc6 29. Qa4
and White has a strong initiative.
• 28. -- e5 29. Qg4 Rd8 30. Qe6+ and White is calling the tune.
• 26. -- Rc7 27. Nc4 Re7 28. Nb6 Qa7 29. Qxb4 and White is a pawn up.
• 24. -- Bd8 25. Qa1 Nc6 26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27. e3 Bb5 28. Rc1 Qa7 and the position is equal.

24. Bh3

• The position in the game gives White a slight edge with firm command of the c-file and the centrally posted Knight.
• If 24. Nd3 Ba8
  • 25. Ndc5
  • 25. -- Nd7 26. Qd2 Rb8 27. e3 Nxc5 28. Nxc5 e5 with a balanced game.
  • 25. -- Nc6 26. Qd2 e5 27. dxe5 Nxe5 28. Bxd5 Bxd5 29. Qxd5 and White's active pieces give him an advantage.
  • 25. e3
  • 25. -- Nd7 26. Qd2
  • 26. -- Rb8 27. Rc1 Qb7
  • 28. Qc2 28. -- Rd8 29. Bf1 e5 30. Ndc5 Nxc5 31. dxc5 Rc8 and White's advancing passed pawn gives him a small edge./li]
  • 28. Ne5? Nxe5 29. dxe5 Bxe5 30. Nc5 Qa7 and Black will drve away the Knight from c5 with advantage.
  • 26. -- Qb8 27. Ndc5 Nxc5 28. dxc5 Be7 29. e4 dxe4 and Black has a slight advatage from his active pieces.
  • 25. -- Rd8 26. Bf1 Qe7 27. Ndc5 Bb7 28. Bd3 h6 29. Qd2 Nc6 +=

24. -- Ba8?

• If 24. -- Re8 25. Bg2 Ba8 then:
• 26. Nd3
• 26. -- Qd7 27. Ndc5
• 27. -- Bxc5
• 28. Rxc5 Nc6 29. e3 and White has a firm grip on the c-file.
• 28. Nxc5 Qb5 29. Nb3 Nc6 and Black has the c-file blocked for the moment.
• 27. -- Qb5 28. e3 Bxc5 29. Rxc5 Qa4 30. Rc8 Bb7 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Qc5 and White has a dustinct plus from the Queen at c5.
• 26. -- Qb7 27. Nbc5 Qb5 28. Nb3 Nc6 29. Qa1 and Black takes over the initiative.
• 26. e3 Qb7
• 27. Nd3 27. -- Nd7 28. Ndc5 Nxc5 29. dxc5 Bc7 and Black has succeed for the moment of stemming the advance of the c-pawn.
• 27. Nc4 Bc7 28. Ncd2 Bd8 29. Nc5 Qa7 30. Ndb3 with equal chances.

25. e3 Qe7

• If 25. -- Nd7 26. Nd3 Qb7 27. Bf1 then:
• 27. -- Rd8 28. Ndc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 Qa7 30. Nxa6 and White is a pawn up with active pieces.
• 27. -- Rb8 28. Ndc5 Nxc5 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 30. Rxc5 and Black's a-pawn will soon fall without compensation.

26. Nd3 Qe8

• White is now poised to penetrate Black's camp.
• If 26. -- Qd7 27. Ndc5 Qa7 28. Bf1 then:
  • 28. -- Bb7 29. Nxb7 Qxb7 30. Nc5
  • 30. -- Bxc5 31. Rxc5 Qd7
  • 32. b3! 32. -- f6 33. Rc7 and White's advantage is distinct and his attack is dangerous.
  • 32. Rc7?! Qa4 33. b3 Qxa5 34. Qc5 Qxc5 35. dxc5 Rd8 and Black may be able to withstand what's left of White's attack
  • 30. -- Qa7 31. Qd2 Bxc5 32. Rxc5 Qb7 33. Qc1 anw Whit will penetrate on the c-file.
  • 30. -- Qa8 31. Qd2 Nc6 32. Nxa6 Nxa5 33. Nxb4 and White has won a pawn.
  • 28. -- Bc6 29. Qd2 Rc8 30. Qxb4 Nd7 31. Qd2 Bb5 32. Bxb5 axb5 33. Nxd7 Qxd7 34. Rxc8+ and White is a pawn to the good.

Black: Sergei Tiviakov
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White: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 26. -- Qe7e8

27. Ndc5!

• White forces exchages removing Black's defenders, the rushes in on the open file.

27. -- Bxc5

• If 27. -- h6 28. Qf1 Qc8 then:
• 29. Qd3 29. -- Bc7 30. Bf1 Bb7
• 31. Qd2 31. -- Nc6 32. Nxb7 Qxb7 33. Qc1 and White will break through on the c-file.
• 31. Be2 Rd8 32. Qd2 Nc6 33. Nxa6 Bxa6 34. Rxc6 Bxe2 35. Qxe2 and White will pound at Black through the c-file.
29. Qe2?!
• 29. -- Bxc5 30. Bg2 Bc6 31. Nxc5 Bb5 32. Qd2 Nc6 and Black has equalized by blocking White in the c-file.
• 29. -- Bc7 30. Bf1 Bb7 31. Qe1 Nc6 32. Nxb7 Qxb7 33. Nc5 gives White a strong position; he will play Qe1c1 and then invade through the c-file.

28. Nxc5 e5 29. dxe5 Qxe5 30. Bg2

• White's move is prophylactic in anticipation of Black soon playing the Queen to the h-file.
• The text move is better than 30. Nd7? Nxd7 31. Bxd7 d4 when:
• 32. exd4 32. -- Qxd4 33. Bc6 Qd8 and White has only a slight edge.
• 32. Rc5 Qe4 33. Bc6 Bxc6 34. Rxc6 dxe3 35. fxe3 Qd3 and chances are equal.

30. -- Qf5 31. Nb3 Qd7

• If 31. -- Nd7 32. Nd4 Qf6 33. Rc8 then:
• 33. -- Qd6 34. Bh3 b3 35. Rxf8+ Nxf8 36. Qc8 and White wins a piece.
• 33. -- Qe5 34. Rxf8+ Kxf8 35. Qc8+ Qe8 36. Qxa6 and after exchanges at c6, the a-pawn advances.

32. Nd4 Qd6

• 32. -- Bb7 33. Rc7 Rc8 34. Rxc8+ then:
• 34. -- Bxc8 35. Bxd5 Bb7 36. e4 and White has more freedom owing to the fact that Black must interrupt his defense and form a luft for his King.
• 34. -- Qxc8 35. Qxc8+ Bxc8 36. Bxd5 and Black's queenside pawns will fall.

33. Bh3 Nd7 34. Rc8 Bb7 35. Rc7 1-0

• White wins a piece. Tiviakov resigns.

On March 23 Viktor Korchnoi turned 75. At an age where most grandmasters spend their time in the comfort of their homes, pontificating on the state of the chess world, Viktor Lvovich is out there bashing it out on the international tournament circuit. --ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Malakhov - Inarkiev, Russlian National Championship (Semi-Final), Tomsk

Ernesto Inarkiev
Photo: Official site of the 59th Russian National Championship (Semi-Final)

Vladimir Malakhov vs. Ernesto Inarkiev
Russian National Chsmpionship Semi-Final, Round 8
Tomsk, September 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Schallop Variation (Double Deferred Spanish Exchange)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Bxc6

• The main line is 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3.

6. -- dxc6 7. d3

• Another line is 7. Nxe5 Nxe4 8. d4 Nd6 9. Re1 0-0 10. c3 Re8.

7. -- Nd7 8. Nbd2 f6 9. Nh4 g6 10. Nc4 Nf8 11. Bd2

• The position of the board is even.
• If 11. Qe2 Be6 then:
• 12. Nf3 Qd7 13. Nfd2 0-0-0 14. f4 with equality.
• 12. Be3 Qd7 13. Rfd1 h6 14. c3 0-0-0 and a level game.

11. -- b6 12. b3 Be6 13. g3 Qd7

• Black's move suggests that he will castle long or play --Bh3 at a moment of his choosing. White has a small edge with slightly more mobile pieces.
• White would still have a small edge after 13. -- Bh3 14. Ng2 Ne6 15. a4 Qd7 16. a5 b5 17. Nce3

14. Ng2 0-0-0 15. Bc3?!

• This is a clumsy-looking move. The Bishop was well-posted where it was, where it defeded against Black playin his own Bishop to b4 and was ready to move to h6 if the opportunity presented itself.
• Better is 15. f4 exf4 16. Nxf4 Bg4 17. Qe1 h5 18. Be3 g5, giving Black a small edge in kingside space.

15. -- h5 16. f4 h4 17. gxh4 exf4 18. Qd2

• Black has an advantage in piece activity. On the ensuing move, Black will trade off White's most active piece.
• White would do better to play18. Rxf4 Nh7 19. Qd2 g5 20. Rff1 gxh4 and White has fewer pawn weaknesses.

18. -- Bxc4 19. bxc4 Ne6

• Black has an small egde in mobility.
The text move is better than
• Correct is 19. -- Qh3?! 20. Qxf4
• 20. -- Bc5+ 21. Kh1 Bd6 22. Rf3 Bxf4 23. Bxh3 and White has a powerful initiative.
• 20. -- Bd6 21. Rf3 Bxf4 22. Rxh3 is the same position as the red line arrived at by a shorter route.

20. Nxf4?

• This move invites a series of exchanges that leave White going to a Rook ending a pawn down.
• If 20. Kh1 f3 21. Rxf3 Nd4 then:
  • 22. Rf2 f5 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Raf1
  • 24. -- Rdf8 25. Bxd4 Qxd4 26. Rxf5 Rxf5 27. Rxf5 and White has a material edge.
  • 24. -- Bc5 25. Rf4 and White contiues to build an attack on the f-pawn.
  • 22. Rf4 Qh3 23. Rf2 Bd6 24. Nf4 Bxf4 25. Qxf4 and White has a temporary pawn plus, but won't for very long.

20. -- Rxh4 21. Nxe6 Qxe6 22. Rae1

• Black has strong position and is building an attack on the h-file.
• 22. Rf4 Rxf4 23. Qxf4 Rh8 24. e5 g5 25. Qg3 Rh3 26. Qg2 Rh4 and Black's command of open lines gives him a clear advantage.

22. -- Rdh8 23. Re2

• 23. Rf2 Bd6 24. e5 Bxe5 25. Bxe5 fxe5 26. Qe2 R8h5 27. Rf8+ Kb7 28. Rf2 Qd6 qne Black has an extra pawn.

23. -- Qh3 24. Rg2

• The text is sufficient to hold the h-pawn for the moment.
• If 24. Rff2?! Bc5 25. Kh1 then:
  • 25. -- Qg3! 26. d4 Bd6 27. Rg2 Qf3 28. Kg1 Rg4 29. Rxg4 Qxg4+ and Black will come down on White's exposed King.
  • 25. -- Bxf2 26. Rxf2 R4h5 27. Bxf6 Re8 28. a3 Rf8 29. Bc3 Rxf2 30. Qxf2 Qg4 and Black's advantage has nearly evaporated; both sides have chances.
  • 28. -- c5 29. c3 c6 and Black has an exchange for a pawn, but White is compensated with a superior pawn center.
• 26. -- Re8 27. Bxf6 Rh5 28. a3 Black has an exchange for a pawn, but White is close to equalizing.

24. -- Bd6 25. Rff2

• White is able to hold the pawn, but there are other vulnerable points in his position on which Black may focus.
• If 25. Rxf6 Rg4 then:
  • 26. Rxg4 Bxh2+ 27. Kf2 Qxg4 28. Rxg6 Rf8+ 29. Rf6 Rg8 30. Bd4 Qg1+ and White should win quickly from here.
  • 26. Kf1 Rxg2 27. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 28. Kxg2 Rxh2+ 29. Kf3 Rxc2 and Black's Rook in Whate's camp provides at least a small edge.

25. -- Bc5 26. d4 Rd8 27. Re2

Black: Ernesto Inarkiev
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White: Vladimir Malakhov
Position afrer 27. Rf2e2

27. -- Qxc3!

• This forces a general liquidation that results in a Rook and pawns ending in which Black has a extra pawn and stronger pawns.
• If 27. -- Qf3 28. Re3 then:
  • 28. -- Qh5 29. Rd3 Bd6 30. Qe2
  • 30. -- Rh8 31. Qxh5 R8xh5 32. Rxg6 and White has equalized.
  • 30. -- Qxe2 31. Rxe2 c5 32. d5 and Black has a slight edge with more active pieces.
  • 28. -- Qf4 29. Rd3 Bd6 30. Qxf4 Bxf4 31. Rxg6 and White has the active Rook.

28. Qxc3 Bxd4+ 29. Qxd4 Rxd4 30. Rxg6 Rhxe4

• 30. -- Rxc4 31. Rxf6 Rcxe4 32. Rd2 Rd4 33. Rxd4 Rxd4 arrives at a position not unlike the actual game.

31. Rxe4 Rxe4 32. Rxf6 Rxc4 33. Rf2 Ra4

• 33. -- Rc3? 34. h4 Rg3+ 35. Kh2 Ra3 36. c4 Kd7 and White's two extra pawn assure him of a lasting endgame edge.

34. c3 Kd7

34. -- Rg4+ 35. Rg2 Re4 36. Kf1 Rh4 37. Kg1 and Black has a pawn plus and the more active Rook.35. Kg2 b5 36. Kg3 Rc4

• If 36. -- Ra3 37. Rc2 b4 38. Kg4 Rxc3 then:
  • 39. Rd2+ Ke6 40. h4 Rc4+ 41. Kg5 Rc5+ 42. Kg6 Rc1 and Black is two pawns to the good and wins easily.
  • 39. Rb2 Rc4+ 40. Kg3 c5 41. h4 Ke6 42. Re2+ Kf5 43. Rf2+ Kg6 and Black is winning.

37. Rf3 Ra4 38. Rf2 Ke6 39. h4 Ra3 40. Rc2 Kf5

• If 40. -- b4 41. Kg4 Rxc3 then:
  • 42. Re2+ Kf6 43. Rf2+ Kg7 44. Re2 Ra3 45. h5 a5 and Balck wins easily.
  • 42. Rf2 c5 43. h5 Rc1 44. h6 Rh1 45. Kg5 c4 46. Rf6+ Kd5 47. Rf5+ Kd4 48. Rf4+ Kd3 49. Rh4 Rxh4 50. Kxh4 c3 and Black's win is a little less certain, but he still has the upper hand.

41. Kf3 Ra4 42. c4 Ra3+!

• 42. -- Rxc4? would throw away Black's hard work after 43. Rxc4 bxc4 44. Ke3 c3 45. Kd3 and White has equalized.

43. Ke2 Rh3 44. Rc1 Ke4 45. Kd2 Kd4 46. 0-1

• If 46. cxb5 then 46. -- Rh2+ 47. Kd1 Kd3 48. Ke1 Rh1+ is very convincing. Malakhov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Short - Hebden, EU Championship, Liverpool

Nigel Short
Photo: ChessBase.com

Nigel Short vs. Mark Hebden
EUropean Union Championship, Round 10
Liverpool, September 2006

Italian Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Two Knights' Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5

• Oh, boy! We're going to have some fun! Hang on to hats. We're in for a wild ride.

4. -- d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3

• Fritz, my silicon sidekick, says "+/-" (clear advantage for White), which is more than White usually gets at this stage of the game. On the other hand, the database at ChessGames.com reports that in nearly 1400 games in which White plays 4. Ng5, Black actually has a better record, winning nearly half the games. Of over 500 games in which the first seven moves match those in this game, White wins about 39.4% and Black 41.2%, with a relatively very low percentage of draws. That would seem a good basis to dispute Fritz' take on the position.
• The purpsoe of the text move is to pin the pawn at c6 so the White Bishop can remain longer at b5. Fritz also says "+/-" to the present position on the board. I don't agree. Black has sacrificed a pawn and in return has more pieces developed or ready to develop, but neither Black nor White has his pieces well-posted. White's Bishop will have to retreat after Black moves his Rook from a8 and the Queen occupies an ideal retreating square for the Knight now at g5; Black's Knight at a5 will have to be reposted.
• More usuual than the text move is 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 e4 10. Ne5 Qd4 11. f4 exf3 12. Nxf3 and again Fritz says "+/-" and again I don't agree. For the price of a pawn, Black has superior development and White is nowhere near ready to develop his queenside; on the other hand, Black's queenside pawns are permanently weak.

8. -- h6 9. Ne4 Nd5

• 9. -- Nxe4 10. Qxe4 Qf6 11. Nc3 Rb8 12. Ba4 and White is taking aim at Black's weak queenside pawns.

10. Ba4 Be7 11. d3 0-0 12. 0-0 f5 13. Ng3

• On the board, Black has not solved the problem of his offside Knight nor White of his queenside pieces. White is still a pawn to the good, but Black is gaining space.
• 13. Nec3 Nb6 14. Re1 Nxa4 15. Nxa4 Bd6 16. Nac3 and Black has not solved the problem of his offside Knight nor White of his queenside pieces.

13. -- Be6 14. Re1 Bd6

• Black is solidifying his spatial plus.
• 14. -- Nb6 15. Bxc6 Rc8 16. Bb5 Rxc2 17. Nc3 Bc5 18. Be3 and Black's Rook at e2 is in an awkward spot, but Black should be able to get one of White's Rooks in exchange.

15. c4 Ne7 16. Bd2 c5

• Black seems to be looking to establish an outpost at d4, but he has no pieces that will get there for at least two or three moves.
• Better is 16. -- Rb8 17. Bc3 Ng6 18. Na3 Qc7 19. Bc2 a6 20. Rad1 c5 21. Ba4 when White is clearly better with his command of open lines.
• 18. -- a6 19. Nc2 c5 20. Rab1 Nh4 21. Qh5 and White is better gien his command of light-squared diagonals.

17. Nc3 a6 18. Nd5 Nac6 19. Bxc6?!

• The Bishop at a4 was doing a better service the Black's Knight at e7. The move throws away some of White's advantage, even if I don't think it was as grand as Fritz has made it out to be up to now.
• Better is 19. Nh5 Kh7 20. Qh3 Nd4 21. Nxg7 Kxg7 22. Bxh6+ and White wins the exchange; or
• 19. Nxe7+ Nxe7 20. Bc3 Qc7 21. a3 Rad8 22. Rad1 when White controls the light-squred diagonals converging at c6

19. -- Nxc6 20. Bc3 Qe8 21. h3 Rd8

• White has a slight egde with his centralized Knight.
• 21. -- Rc8 22. Rac1 Nd4 23. Qh5 Qd8 24. b3 Rf7 and White has a clear edge with a centralized Knight.

22. Re2 Bb8 23. Rae1 a5 24. a3

• The text move is to keep the Black Knight out of b4, which could force White to exchange his Knight now at d5.
• 24. b3 Qf7 25. Nf6+ gxf6 26. Qxc6 Rxd3 27. Bxa5 yields White has more active pieces.

24. -- Nd4 25. Bxd4 cxd4 26. Nb6 e4?!

• The pawn advance actually weakens Black. White will have no problem blasting the pawns away.
• Better is 26. -- Qe7 27. Kh1 g6 28. Qc6 f4 29. Ne4 f3 when Black has balanced the game.

27. dxe4 f4 28. Nf1 Qc6 29. Nd5 Qxc4 30. Nd2?!

• White was having a difficult time finding moves that would give him a greater edge. All the last moves accomplshes is driving the Black Queen to a better square. Form there, Black gains equality, if just for a fleeting moment.
• 30. b3 Qb5 31. Rd1 Bxd5 32. exd5 Qxd5 33. Nd2 d3 34. Re4 is level.

30. -- Qb5 31. Qb3

• The offer to swap Queens into a even ending is no worse than 31. Qh5 Kh8 32. Nf3 d3 33. Rd2 Bxd5 34. exd5 Rxd5.

31. -- Qxb3 32. Nxb3 Bxd5 33. exd5 Rxd5

• The position is flatfooted even.

34. Rd2 Be5 35. Nc1

• The position remains even. No better is 35. Red1 Rfd8 36. Kf1 g5 37. a4 Bh8 38. Ke2
• At this point, the game appears headed for a draw.

35. -- a4?

• The pawn removes itself from a place where it is more easily protected. 35. -- g5 36. b4 Rb8 37. bxa5 Rxa5 38. Ne2 Ra4 with a likely draw.

36. Nd3 Bd6 37. Rc2!

• The Rook goes to a more active position while the Knight at d3 is preserved.

37. -- f3 38. g3

• 38. Rc4 fxg2 39. Kxg2 Rb8 40. Kf3 then:
• 40. -- Rf5+ 41. Ke2 Re8+ 42. Kd2
• 42. -- Bf4+ 43. Kd1 Rxe1+ 44. Kxe1 Bg5 45. Rxd4 and White's extra pawn is a clear advantage at this stage.
• 42. -- Rxe1 43. Kxe1 Rd5 44. Rxa4 and White's extra pawn and active give him jopes of a win.
• 40. -- Kf7 41. Rxa4 Rbb5 42. Rc1 and White's extra pawn and active Rooks are a huge advantage; White should win.

38. -- h5

Black: Mark Hebden
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White: Nigel Short
Position after 38. -- h6h5

39. Rc4!

• White wins a pawn.

39. -- h4

• 39. -- Rb8 40. Rxa4 Rb3 41. Rd1 Kf7 42. h4 gives White a winning position with an extra pawn, an active Rook and a safer King.

40. g4 Ra5

• British master and journalist Steve Giddens assigns this move a ?; in my view, Black has already lost and therefore this move doesn't and couldn't be called a blunder. All one can say is that it makes White's task easier.
• Better is 40. -- Rb8 41. Rxa4 Rb3 42. Rd1 g5 43. Rd2, but White still wins.

41. Rxd4!

• The pawn (see note after White's 39th move) is taken. White will now nurse the advantage home.

41. -- Rf6 42. Ree4!

• White wins another pawn.

42. -- Bc7 43. Kf1 Rc6

• 43. -- Rd6 44. Rxd6 Bxd6 45. Re3 g5 46. Rxf3 White's extra pawn and more active Rook will see him home.

44. Rxa4 Rxa4 45. Rxa4 Rd6 46. Ne1 Rd1 47. Re4

• 47. Rc4 Bd8 48. b4 Bg5 49. a4 Bd2 50. Re4 White's two connected passers will keep going.

47. -- Rb1 48. Re8+ Kh7 49. Rf8 Bd6

• 49. -- Be5 50. Rxf3 Bxb2 51. Rb3 g5 52. Ke2 Kg6 53. Nd3 and White wins a piece.

50. Rxf3 Rxb2 51. Rc3 Be5 52. Rd3 Bb8

• 52. -- Ra2 53. Nf3 Bf6 54. Kg2 Be7 55. Rd5 puts everything on the kingside where White's extra pawn and active pieces will yeld a victory.

53. Nf3 Ba7 54. Rd2 Rb3 55. Kg2 Rxa3 56. Nxh4 Bb8

• 56. -- Ra1 57. Nf5 g5 58. h4 gxh4 59. Nxh4 and White wins with the two remaining pawns.

57. Nf3 Bf4 58. Rd4 g5 59. h4 1-0

• If 59. h4 Ra5 60. Rd7+ then:
• 60. -- Kh6 61. Nxg5 Bxg5 62. Rd6+ Kg7 63. hxg5 Rxg5 64. Kg3 and the Rook must give way for the pawns to advance.
• 60. -- Kg6 61. h5+ Kf6 62. h6 Ra8 63. h7 and White wins by using the Knight to taking Black's last pawn.
• Hebden resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Szonyi - Khurtsidze, 3rd Szeged Cup, Szeged (Hungary)

Nino Khurtsidze
Photo: Official site of the European Women's Championship, 2004

Kata Szonyi vs. Nino Khurtsidze
3rd Szeged Cup, Round 1
Szeged, Hungary, September 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Qb6!?

• Other satifactory lines are:
• 4. -- e6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bf4 Bb4 7. Ndb5 e5 8. Bg5 =
• 4. -- Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 +=

5. Nb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Be3

• 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Qd2 d6 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. f3] with a slight edge for White based on control of the d-file.

7. -- Qc7 8. Be2 Bb4 9. Bd2 0-0

• 9. -- Bxc3 10. Bxc3 Nxe4 11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bd4 d5 and the position is balanced.

10. f3

• White would do well to consider lines that get her King out of the center.
• 10. Bd3 d5 11. 0-0 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 dxe4 with a level game.

10. -- d5 11. exd5 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Nxd5 13. Bd2

• Black already has the advantage. The text move is a defensive maneuver equivalent to shutting the cellar door to wait out a tornado.
• If 13. Qd2 then:
• 13. -- Rd8
• 14. 0-0 Qb6+ 15. Rf2 a5 and Black has a slight edge with better piece activity.
• 14. 0-0-0 Ndb4 15. Qxd8+ Nxd8 16. Bxb4 Qf4+ 17. Kb1 Nc6 and Black has a slight advantage with the initiative.
• q3. -- a5 14. Nd4 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Rd8 16. Nb5 Qb6 17. Bc4 a4 and has an advantage with better piece activity and control of the vital d4 square.

13. -- Rd8 14. Qc1

• This is a passive move that does little good.
• Better is the active defense 14. c4 Nf4 15. 0-0 Ne5 and now:
• 16. c5 b6 17. cxb6 Qxb6+ and Black commands open lines.
• 16. Bxf4 Rxd1 17. Raxd1 and Black's Queen trumps White's Rook and Bishop.

14. -- Qe5 15. Kf2

• White is palying a dangerous game with her failure to remove her King from the center.
• Recommended is 15. Qb1 b6 16. c4 Nde7 17. Bc3 Qg5 18. 0-0 Ng6 and even here Black has better piece activity.

15. -- b6 16. c3 Bb7 17. Qc2 Rac8 18. Rad1

• White is attempting to get counterplay on the d-file.
• if 18. Bd3 Nf6 19. Rae1 Qh5 20. Be2 then:
• 20. -- Rd7 21. Be3 Rcd8 22. Bf4 a6 23. Bg3 and Black piece activity gives her a clear edge.
• 20. -- Qh4+ 21. g3 Qa4 22. Qb1 Ne7 and Black has much more command of open lines.

18. -- a5 19. Qb1

• Now White will try to get something started on the b1h7 diagonal.
• 19. Rhe1 Nd4 20. Nxd4 Qxd4+ 21. Kf1 Qc5 and Black will open up her position with a timely retreat of the Knight now on d5.

19. -- a4 20. Nc1 a3 21. Bd3

• The text is a dubious move that does more to tangle White's defense than make it flexible.
• Better is 21. Nd3 Qf6 22. bxa3 Na5 23. Nc1 Nc4 and Black has a spactial plus.
• 21. bxa3 Nxc4 22. Bxc3 Qc5+
• 23.Kg3 Qxc3 24. Qxf6 Ba8 and White's advantage has evaporated.
23. Kf1 Qxc3 24. Re1 Qxa3 25. Qb6 Nb4 and Black's command of the open lines give her a winning position.

21. -- axb2 22. Ne2?

• The text move probably is intended to stymie Black's access to the back rank through the e-file while at the same time removing the Knoght from attack. This approach is too passive.
• If 22. Qxb2 Na5 23. Rhe1 Qc7 then:
• 24. Kg1 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Qc5+ 26. Kh1 Qxc4 and Black has only a small edge.
• else 24. Ne2 Nc4 25. Bxc4 Qxc4 26. Kg1 Ra8 and Black has slightly better piece activity.

22. -- Qd6 23. Bxh7+ Kh8 24. h4

• If 24. Be4 Qc5+ then:
• 25. Ke1 25. -- Ne5
• 26. Qxb2 26. -- Nf6
• 27. Bb1 Bxf3 28. gxf3 Nxf3+ 29. Kf1 Qd5 and Black is a pawn to the good with an easy win.
• 27. Be3 Rxd1+ 28. Kxd1 Nc4 29. Bxc5 Nxb2+ and Black's initiative is overwhelming.
• 26. Bxd5 Qxd5 27. Nd4 Nc4 and Black has overwhelming command of the center.
• 25. Kf1 Ne5 26. Bg5 Ba6 27. Rxd5 exd5 28. Bxd8 dxe4 and Black wins.

24. -- Qc5+!

• This moves announces the final onslaught. Lesson: don't leave a King exposed in the center.

25. Ke1

• If 25. Kf1 Ba6 26. Be4 Ne3+ then:
• 27. Ke1 Nxg2+ 28. Kf1 Ne3+ 29. Bxe3 Qxe3 and the Black Queen in bone in the throat of White's position, directly assaulting the King left in the center.
• 27. Bxe3 Qxe3 28. Rxd8+ Rxd8 29. Qe1 Rd2 nd White must give up her Queen or submit to mate.

25. -- f5 26. Bg6

Black: Nino Khurtsidze
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White: Kata Szonyi
Position after 26. Bh7g6

26. -- Ne3!

• With this move, Black at long last opens up her position. The game is now securely won for Black.

27. Bxe3

• If 27. h5 Nxg2+ 28. Kf1 Ne3+ 29. Bxe3 Qxe3 then:
• 30. Rh3 Rxd1+ 31. Qxd1 Rd8 32. Qb1 Ba6 -+
• 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Rh2 Qxf3+ 32. Ke1 Ne5 -+

27. -- Qxe3 28. f4

• If 28. Qxb2 Rxd1+ 29. Kxd1 Rd8+ then:
• 30. Ke1 Ne5 31. Qb5 Nd3+ 32. Kd1 Nb4+ 33. Nd4 Qxc3 -+
• 30. Nd4 Nxd4 31. cxd4 Rxd4+ -+

28. -- Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1

• 29. Kxd1 Rd8+ 30. Ke1 Rd2 and White will soon be mated.

29. -- Ba6 30. Bh5 Bd3 31. 0-1

• 30. -- Bd3 31. Rh3 Bxe2 32. Bxe2 Qc1 33. Rd3 b1Q and White has no way to make up the material disadvantage. Ms. Szonyi resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Wang - Vauchier-Lagrave, Young Masters' Tournament, Lausanne

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Photo: ChessBase.com

Wang Yue vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Young Masters' Tournament, Round 3/Game 1,
Lausanne, September 2006

English Symmetrical Game: Catalan Opening

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. 0-0 e5 7. a3

• Also satisfactory is 7. d3 Nf6 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Nd2 +=

7. -- Nge7 8. d3 0-0 9. Ne1 f5 10. Bg5

• On the board, the position is level.
• 10. f4 b6 11. Nd5 Bb7 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Bg5 gives White a small edge is space and piece activity.

10. -- h6 11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. b4 Rb8 13. Rb1 b6 14. Qa4

• The position on the board is still even. White has space on the queenside; Black is compensated with space on the kingside.
• 14. Nd5 Bb7 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Bxb7 Qxb7 is an even game. Pawns must bw exchanged before either side has any opportunity.

14. -- Bd7 15. Nb5

• If 15. Qa6 Qc7 16. e3 f4 then:
• 17. Nb5 Bxb5 18. Qxb5 Rbd8 19. Nc2 f3 with a level game.
• 17. exf4 exf4 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. Bxd5+ Kh7 and Black's piece activity is slight better than White's; White has space on the queenside.

15. -- a5 16. Nc2 f4!

• This is an important move. The pawn will remain at f4, supported by the Rook at f8 for the next 15 moves. However, the treat to break the game open at the right moment plays into the assessment of any position between now and then,
• If 16. -- e4 17. dxe4 then:
• 17. -- f4 18. Rbd1 fxg3 19. hxg3 axb4 20. axb4 gives White a small edge in piece activity,
• 17. -- axb4? 18. axb4
• 18. -- f4 19. gxf4 Rxf4 20. Rfd1 and White has a strong advantage in space and piece activity.
• 18. -- Bc6 19. exf5 Ra8 20. Qb3 and White is a pawn to the good.

17. Qb3 Bc6 18. Nc3

• The position on the board remains equal.
• 18. Bxc6 Nxc6 19. e3 axb4 20. axb4 Ra8 21. e4 Qe7 is also level.

18. -- Bd7 19. Qa2

• The position on the board remains balanced.
• 19. Rbe1 Bg4 20. b5 Qd7 21. Nd5 Be6 22. Nxe7+ Qxe7 and Black has more mobile Rooks.

19. -- Nc6 20. Rb3!?

• This is an interesting move. It is played to provoke the pawn advance and lock down the queenside.
• If 20. bxa5 bxa5 then:
• 21. Rxb8 Qxb8 22. Rb1 Qc8 23. Rb6 Kh8 24. Qb3 Qe8 and White's control of the b-file is offset by Black's potential action on the other wing.
• 21. Bd5+ Kh7 22. Rxb8 Qxb8 23. Rb1 Qd8 and Black has a slight advantage in piece activity.

20. -- a4 21. Rbb1

• 21. Nxa4? Nd4 22. bxc5 Nxe2+ 23. Kh1 Bxa4 and Black is dominating the board.

21. -- Ne7 22. Nd5 h5

• The position on the board is still equal.
• If 22. -- Nxd5 23. Bxd5+ Kh8 24. Bg2 then:
• 24. -- Qg5 25. bxc5 dxc5 26. Ne1 fxg3 27. hxg3 and a level game.
• 24. -- b5 25. bxc5 dxc5 26. cxb5 Bxb5 27. Qd5 Qxd5 28. Bxd5 and an equal position.

23. Nxe7+ Qxe7 24. Ne1

• 24. bxc5 dxc5 25. Na1 Qd6 26. Qc2 fxg3 27. hxg3 Rbd8 is level.

24. -- g5 25. Nf3 h4

• 25. -- g4 26. Nd2 Kh8 27. b5 Be6 28. Qc2 Qa7 29. Ne4 Rbd8 30. Nc3 is even.

26. Nd2 g4 27. Bd5+ Kh8 28. Ne4 Bh6

• 28. -- fxg3 29. fxg3 cxb4 30. axb4 b5 31. gxh4 Qxh4 presents no good opportunities for either side.

29. Qc2 Rf5 30. b5?

• This is a fatal mistake. Locking ip the queenside will allow Black to breakthrough on the kingside.
• If 30. bxc5 dxc5 31. Rb2 then:
• 31. -- fxg3 32. hxg3 Rh5 33. Rfb1 Rf8 34. Kg2 hxg3 35. Nxg3 with equality
• 31. -- Bg7? 32. Rfb1? f3 33. exf3 Rxf3 34. Rxb6 and White commands all the open lines.

30. -- Rbf8 31. Qxa4 fxg3!

• Black is now able to open up the kingside to his advantage. The text move allows Black's combination.
• Black also wins with 31. -- Bc8 32. Qa8 fxg3 33. hxg3 hxg3 34. Nxg3 Qh4 35. Qxc8 Bf4 -+

32. hxg3 hxg3 33. Nxg3

Black: Wang Yue
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White: Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Position after 33. Ne4xg3

33. -- Rxf2!

• The exchange sacrifice ices the game.
• Black also wins by33. -- Qh4 34. Nxf5 Bxf5 35. Bg2 g3 36. fxg3 Be3+

34. Rxf2 Be3 35. Rbf1

• 35. Kf1 Bxf2 36. Kg2 Bxg3 37. Rh1+ Bh4 leaves White's King exposed to the elements.

35. -- Qh4 36. Nf5 Bxf5 0-1

• White is soon mated. Wang resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Games

Bonus Games

Vladimir Kramnik - Peter Leko, Match for the World Title, Brissago, 2004
Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik, International Tournament, Sofia, 2005

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Kramnik - Leko, Match, Brissago (Switzerland), 2004

This was the final game of the 2004 World Championship Match. To retain his title, Kramnik needed a win over his opponent, Peter Leko, a player with a reputation for being especially hard to defeat.



Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: World Chess Trophy (Czech)

Vladimir Kramnik Vs. Peter Leko
Match for the World Title, Round 14
Brissago (Ticino Canton, Switzerland), October 2004

German Advance Game: Tal Attack (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bd7

• Often played is 5. -- Be4 6. Nf3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 e6 8. Bg2 Nd7

6. Nd2 c5 7. dxc5 e6 8. Nb3 Bxc5?!

The move is dubious in that it allows White to swap his semi-offside Knight at b3 for Black's more important "good" Bishop at c5.

Better is 8. -- Qc7 9. f4 Ba4 10. Be3 Nd7 11. Bg2 Nxc5 with equality.

9. Nxc5 Qa5+ 10. c3 Qxc5 11. Nf3

• White has a modest edge in space on the kingside.
• 11. Be3 Qc7 12. f4 Nc6 13. Bg2 f6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. g5 also gives White more kingside space, but Black is compensated with better development.

11. -- Ne7 12. Bd3 Nbc6

• 12. -- Qc7 13. Bf4 Nbc6 14. Qd2 Ng6 15. Bxg6 fxg6 16. Nd4 0-0 gives Black an equal game.

13. Be3 Qa5 14. Qd2 Ng6 15. Bd4

• The game is level. White has more space. Black has a little bit better piece activity and better King safety.
• 15. Bf4 Qa4 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Nd4 0-0 18. b3 Qa5 is level.

15. -- Nxd4 16. cxd4 Qxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Nf4 18. Rac1

• The position is even. White has command of the c-file and Black has a well-placed Knight; if Black chooses, the Knight could be swapped for Black's active Bishop at d3.
• 18. Bc2 Rc8 19. Rac1 Ke7 20. a4 Rc6 21. Rhe1 Rhc8 gives Black a slight edge with control of the c-file.

18. -- h5 19. Rhg1

• White has the advantage with space on the kingside and center and with command of the c-file.
• If 19. gxh5 Bc6 20. Rhg1 Nxd3 21. Kxd3 then:
• 21. -- Kf8 22. Rg5
• 22. -- Rh7 23. Rcg1 Be8 24. R5g3 Rc8 is level.
• 22. -- f6 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Rg6 give White a small edge with the attack on the f-pawn the the opportunity to advance the h-pawn.
• 21. -- Rh7 22. Rg5 Ke7 23. Rcg1 Rg8 24. Ke3 gives White the advantage with more active Rooks.

19. -- Bc6 20. gxh5 Nxh5 21. b4

• White has central space and more active pieces.
• 21. Ke3 Kd7 22. Rc3 Rac8 23. Rgc1 g6 24. b4 gives White more space in the center and more active pieces.

21. -- a6 22. a4 Kd8 23. Ng5 Be8 24. b5 Nf4 25. b6 Nxd3 26. Kxd3 Rc8 27. Rxc8+ Kxc8 28. Rc1+

• White is in command of the c-file and maintains his central space. He is also expanding on the queenside.
• 28. Nf3 g6 29. Rc1+ Bc6 30. Ng5 Rxh4 31. Nxf7 Rh3+ gives Black a more active Rook than in the actual game; this position is approimately equal.

28. -- Bc6 29. Nxf7 Rxh4 30. Nd6+ Kd8 31. Rg1

• White has a slight advantage with active piece and a threat to invade Black's camp with his Rook.
• 31. a5 Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3 33. Rg1 Ra2+ 34. Ke3 Rxa5 35. Rxg7 and White has a small plus after invading the seventh rank; he wins the b-pawn.

31. -- Rh3+ 32. Ke2 Ra3

• 32. -- Rh7 33. a5 Ke7 34. f4 then:
• 34. -- Kf8 35. f5 exf5 36. Nxf5 and White will bring his Knight to d6 and threaten to pawn at b7.
• 34. -- Kd8 35. f5 Ke7 36. Ke3 and White's spactial advantage is beginning to squeeze Black's position like a python.

33. Rxg7 Rxa4 34. f4

• White's winning plan is to advance his forces into Black's territory and push him off the board.
• 34. Nxb7+ Bxb7 35. Rxb7 Rxd4 36. Ra7 Rb4 37. Rxa6 Kc8 lets Black off the hook with a probable draw.

34. -- Ra2+?

• This just forces White to move his King up the board, which was part of his plan anyway. Now, he can realize it.
• Correct is 34. -- Rxd4 35. Rf7 Rb4 36. Rf8+ Ke7 37. Rf7+ Kd8; White is vitrually two pawns down and does best to force a draw by repition by checks check on f7 and f8.

35. Kf3 Ra3+ 36. Kg4

• 36. Kf2 Ra2+ 37. Kf3 Ra1 38. Nxb7+ Bxb7 39. Rxb7 +/-

36. -- Rd3 37. f5!

Black: Peter Leko
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White: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 36. -- Ra3d3

37. f5!

• Going forward with his plan. Black is now helpless.


• 37. Rh7 Rxd4 38. Kg5 Rb4 39. f5 Rxb6 then:
• 40. fxe6! 40. -- Be8 41. Rh8 and White wins the Bishop.
• 40. f6 Rb1 41. Rh8+ and White has an easy win.

37. -- Rxd4+

• 37. -- Rd1 38. f6 Rxd4+ 39. Kg5 then:
• 39. -- Rd1 40. Kg6 Be8+ 41. Kh7 Rg1 42. Rxg1 +-
• 39. -- Ba4 40. Rc7 Bd7 and Whites forces mate: 41. Nxb7+ Ke8 42. Nd6+ Kd8 43. Nf7+ Ke8 44. b7 Kxf7 45. Rxd7+ Ke8 46. Re7+ Kd8 47. b8Q#

38. Kg5 exf5

• 38. -- Rd1 39. Kf6 Rf1 40. Kxe6 Rg1 41. Rc7 a5 42. Rc8#

39. Kf6 Rg4

• 39. -- Rh4 40. Nf7+ Kc8 41. Rg8+ Be8 42. Ke7 then:
• 42. -- d4 43. Rxe8#
• 42. -- Rh8 43. Nxh8 f4 44. Rxe8#

40. Rc7 Rh4 41. Nf7+ 1-0

• 41. Nf7+ Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8#. Leko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Topalov - Ponomariov, International Tournament, Sofia, 2005

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Veselin Topalov vs. Ruslan Ponomariov
International Tournament, Round 5
Sofia, May 2005

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 0-0 8. Rc1 c6 9. e4 d5 10. e5 Ne4 11. Bd3 Nxc3

• The position is typically level for this stage of the game.
• Just as good and perhaps more interesting is 11. -- Ba3 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bxe4 Bxc1 14. Bxc1.

12. Rxc3!?

• The position is still equal, but Topalov (White) throws Ponomariov on his own resources by rejected the more natual 12. Bxc6.
• 12. Bxc3 dxc4 13. bxc4 b5 14. Qc2 h6 15. c5 =+

12. -- c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. h4

• The position remains even. White has more space in the center and more piece mobility; Black is taking space on the queenside and has a safer King.
• 14. Qb1 h6 15. 0-0 Bb7 16. Rcc1 then:
• 16. -- Nd7 17. cxd5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Qxd5 with equality.
• 16. -- Qc7 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Rfd1 Nc6 with equality.

14. -- h6?

• A hundred years ago, Dr. Tarrasch admonished all chess player that when one has castled and his opponent has not, one should be wary of advancing the King's Rook's pawn, lest it become a target. It's not quite as bads here as in Tarrasch's example, but it's not too good here, either.
• If 14. -- d4 15. Rc1 Bb7 16. Qe2 Qb6 then:
• A 17. Bg5 f6 18. exf6 Bxf6
• 19. Bxf6 Nd7 20. Ng5 Nxf6 and Black has a slight edge in space.
• 19. Be4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Nd7 with equality.
• 17. Be4 17. -- Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Qc6 and Black has a spatial plus.

15. Bb1 f5

• 15. -- Nd7 16. Qc2 f5 17. exf6 Nxf6 18. Bxh6 gives White an advatage in piece activity; note that 18. -- gxh6? would be a mistake because of 19. Qg6+ Kh8 20. Qxh6+ Kg8 21. Qg6+ Kg8 22. Ng5. This is the kind of attack which Dr. Tarrasch demonstrated was possible in the circumstances described in the note to Black's 14th move.

16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qc2 d4

Black: Ruslan Ponomariov
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White: Veselin Topalov
Position after 17. -- d5d4


18. Ng5!!

• White sacrifices a Rook and a Knight to get a won position.
• The text is better than 18. Qh7+ Kf7 19. Rc1 Bb7 20. Bg6+ Ke7 21. Be4 and Black succeeds at bouncing Black's King around, but has only a slight advantage in the end.

18. -- hxg5 19. hxg5 dxc3 20. Bf4

• Even better is 20. Rh8+! Kf7 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22. gxf6+ Kd7 23. Qd3+ Kc7 24. Qxd8+ Rxd8 25. Bf4+ and White either wins the Rook promotes the pawn now at f6.

20. -- Kf7 21. Qg6+ Ke7 22. gxf6+ Rxf6 23. Qxg7+ Rf7 24. Bg5+

• Also good is 24. Qg5+ Kd7 25. Qxd8+ Kxd8 26. Rh8+.

24. -- Kd6 25. Qxf7 Qxg5 26. Rh7 Qe5+

• If 26. -- Qd8 27. Qf4+ Kc6 28. Be4+ then the King must give way, netting White the exchange.

27. Kf1 Kc6 28. Qe8+ Kb6

• 28. -- Nd7 29. Qxd7+ Kb6 30. Re7 Ka5 31. Rxe6 +-

29. Qd8+ Kc6 30. Be4+ 1-0

30. -- Qxe4 31. Qc7#. Ponomariov resigns.