Jack Rabbit Chess Report (October 24): Vishy Just One Point from Title Defense

[Jack Rabbit]

Anand within One Point of Victory after 8 Rounds




With the world championship match two-thirds finished, reigning champ Vishy Anand is within one point of victory over former champion Vladimir Kramnik after today's eighth round game ended in a draw in Bonn.

Anand leads the match 5½-2½. Kramnik needs to score 3½ points in the remaining four rounds. Almost all observers believe this is most unlikely.

Anand took charge of the match by winning games five and six last week to take a three-point advantage over Kramnik. The seventh round game ended in a draw.

The ninth round will be played Saturday with Anand having White. If Anand wins the game, the match ends.


Sverdlovsk and Monte Carlo win European Club Cup



The European Club Cup ended in victory for the team from Sverdlovsk in the general cmpetition and for Monte Carlo in the ladies event when play finished Thursday in Kallithea on the Isthmus of Corinth in Greece.

Sverdlovsk entered the seventh and final match 10 points needing a win over Saransk, another Russian team, to overtake Baden-Baden from Germany, who entered the round with 11 points and could have locked up first prize with in win over Sarajevo.

Sverdlovsk defeated Saransk, 4½-1½ while Baden-Baden could only manage a 3-3 draw against Sarajevo, giving each team 12 match points. However, in individual games Sverdlovsk held a 32-27½ point advantage over Baden-Baden to take the title.

It is important to note that Vladimir Malakhov scored a perfect 7 points for Sverdlovsk to lead the team and all players in Kallithea, and that Malakhov, Alexei Shirov and Alexander Grischuk scored wins for Sverdlovsk in the crucial last round.

Monte Carlo scored 12 points to win the women's competition and was assured of a tie with Podgorica from Montenegro and the Russian team Saratov going into the last round.

Monte Carlo played to a 2-2 draw against Podgorica in the last round while Saratov drew with EPAM from Belarus. Podgorica, Saratov and another Russian team, Spartak Vidnoe, each finished with 10 points. Spartak Vidnoe led the tournament in indiviual points with 19½, a half-point better than Monte Carlo and Podgorica.

Monte Carlo's leading scorer was Nana Dzignide of Georgia with 6 points out of 7, who tied with Romania's Alina Motoc of Cotnari-Politehnica for the overall top score among the women.


Calendar

Russian Championship Playoff, Moscow Tuesday, 28 October. Svidler, Alekseev and Jakovenko in a three-sided rapid match to determine the Russian national title.

Cap d'Agde Rapid Tournament 28-31 October.

Pan-American Championship, Boca Raton, Florida 1-7 November.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand or Kramnik in 2009.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

Hasting Chess Tournament 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 16 January-1 February 2009.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. World Championship Match, Bonn

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

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

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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Kramnik 0-1 Anand, Round 5

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Vishy Anand
Match for the World Title, Round 5
Bonn, 20 October 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense (Reynolds Opening)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 Bb7 15.Bxb5

• Up to here, the players have repeted the moves of Round 3, which was won by Anand.

15...Rg8!?

• Black does not intoroduce any novelty; he is merely changing his move oredr from the third round.
• 15...Bc5 16.Bd2 Ke7 17.a4 Rhg8 18.g3 Qc7 19.Nh4 Ne5 20.Rfc1 Qd6 21.Bd3 Rg4 22.Bf4 Rag8 is equal (Abdul-Rahman, Bangladesh Ch, Dhaka, 2006).
• Game 3 continued 15...Bd6 16.Rd1 Rg8 17.g3 Rg4 18.Bf4 Bxf4.

16.Bf4

• White seizes an open diagonal.
• Better would be to attack the d-pawn: 16.Rd1 Bd6 17.g3 Rg4 then:
• 18.h3 Re4 19.Qd3 gives White more activity.
• 18.Bf4 Bxf4 is Game 3.

16...Bd6 17.Bg3!?

• There is no longer any chance of returning to the lines of the third round.
17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Rfd1 Rd8 19.a4 Qf4 20.Ra3 e5 21.b4 gives White more freedom.

17...f5!?

• This is a sharp move. Black's plan is to advance his kingside pawns and scatter White's minor pieces.
• 17...Bxg3 18.hxg3 Rd8 19.a4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Ke7 21.Qe2 may be slightly better for White.

18.Rfc1 f4 19.Bh4 Be7?!

• This may be more provocative than careless.
• Better is 19...Bd5 20.Bc4 Qb7 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 with equality.

20.a4!

• 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.a4 Rg7 22.Kh1 Rag8 23.Rg1 Nf6 is equal.

20...Bxh4 21.Nxh4 Ke7 22.Ra3

• White has the advantage in space.
22.b4 Rg5 23.Nf3 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Rag8 25.Bf1 gives White a small advantage in space.

22...Rac8 23.Rxc8!?

• Since White has the advantage in space, he should seek to avoid the exchange of Rooks.
• 23.Rd1 Qc5 24.Bxd7 Kxd7 25.Nf3 Qd6 26.a5 gives White more freedom.

23...Rxc8 24.Ra1

• White still has more freedom. Black's main asset is in his two advanced central pawns.

24...Qc5 25.Qg4 Qe5

• 25...Qc1+?! 26.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 27.Bf1 Ba6 28.h3! although Black wins the Bishop, he won't get enough compensation for the Queen.

26.Nf3 Qf6

• If 26...Bxf3 27.Qxf3 Nf6 then:
• 28.Ba6 Rb8 29.a5 Ne4 30.Qe2 White maintains the active game.
• 28.Bd3?! Qb8! 29.Qe2 f3 30.Qxf3 Qxb2 is equal.

27.Re1 Rc5 28.b4

• White clearly has the initiativce.

28...Rc3!?

• Black makes a risky moves hoping the lure White into an inaccuracy.
• 28...h5 then White maintains his advantage after 29.Qh3 Rc3 30.Qxh5 Bxf3 31.gxf3 Nf8 32.Qd5.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 28...Rc5c3

29.Nxd4?

• White sees he can get the piece back with an extra pawn and a Rook on the seventh, which sounds pretty good. If he could see beyond the that, he would not have make this move.
• 29.Nd2 Qg6 30.Qxg6 hxg6 31.a5 Bd5 32.Rd1 e5 is equal.

29...Qxd4 30.Rd1 Nf6!

• The offer to exchange Queens secures Black's victory. Any other move loses.
• If 30...Qe4? then 31.Rxd7+ Kf6 32.Bf1 Bc6 33.Qh4+ wins for White.

31.Rxd4

• If 31.Qe2 Qxb4 32.Qf1 Rb3 then:
• 33.Rc1 f3 34.g3 Ne4 35.Qe1 Rb2 36.Qxb4+ Rxb4 gives Black an extra piece.
• If 33.Bc4 then 33...Rb2 34.Qd3 Bd5 35.Bxd5 Nxd5 36.Qxh7 f3! wins,

31...Nxg4 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.Rxb7

• There is nothing better.

33...Rc1+ 34.Bf1
BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 34.Bc4f1

34...Ne3!!

• The sacrifice of the Knight ends the game in short order.

35.fxe3 fxe3! 0-1

• White must surrender the Rook to avoid a forced mate.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Anand 1-0 Kramnik, Round 6

Former World Champion Anatoly Karpov Makes the Ceremonial First Move to Start Round Six
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
Match for the World Title, Round 6
Bonn, 21 October 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening/Noa Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5

• If 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 Ne4 7.Qc2 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 then:
• If 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nf3 then:
• 10...Bf5 11.b4 0-0 12.Bb2 b6 13.b5 bxc5 14.bxc6 Qa5+ 15.Nd2 Rab8 16.Rd1 d4 17.c7 Qxc7 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Qd2 Rfe8 20.h4 Rb6 21.Rh3 Qb7 is equal (Grigorian-Gulko, Zonal, Vilnius, 1975).
• 13.Qa4 Qc7 14.e3 bxc5 15.Bb5 Bd7 is equal (Bronstein-Balashov, Minsk, 1963).
• 10...Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxc5 12.Qxc5 Nxc5 13.e3 Nb3 14.Rd1 Nxd2 15.Rxd2 Be6 16.Bb5 Ke7 17.0-0 Rhc8 is equal (Konstaninopolsky-Veresov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Moscow, 1947).
• If 9.e3 Qa5+ 10.Bd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 dxc4 then:
• 12.Bxc4 Qxc5 13.Rc1 Qg5 14.f4 Qh4+ 15.Qf2 Qxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Ke7 17.Nf3 Bd7 18.Rhd1 Rhd8 19.Bb5 Rac8 20.Ke2 Be8 draw (Szabo-O'Kelly, IT, Mar del Plata, 1948).
• 12.Qxa5 Nxa5 13.Rc1 b5 14.cxb6 Bb7 15.bxa7 Ke7 16.Ne2 Rxa7 17.Nc3 Rb8 18.Na2 Bd5 19.Nb4 Nc6 20.Nxc6+ Bxc6 21.Rxc4 Ba4 22.Rb4 Rxb4 23.axb4 Bb5 24.f3 Ra1+ 25.Kf2 Rb1 26.b3 draw (L'Ami-Adams, Staunton Mem, London, 2008).

5...Qxd5

• If 5...exd5 6.Bg5 then:
• If 6...c5 7.dxc5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.e3 Qa5 then:
• If 11.Be5 0-0 12.Bd3 Nc6 13.Bxe4 Nxe5 then:
• 14.Bh7+ Kg7 15.Bd3 b6 16.cxb6 d4 17.exd4 Nxd3+ 18.Qxd3 puts White three pawns to the good, but the Whiter King is caught in the center. Black won in altogether 26 moves (Ushenina-Kosteniuk, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 14.Bxd5 Bg4 15.Nf3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 Rac8 Black wins back one pawn and has sufficient compensation for the other (Palo-Ward, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2001).
• If 11.Nge2 Bf5 12.Be5 0-0 13.Nd4 Re8 14.Bxb8 then:
• If 14...Nxc3 then:
• 15.Nxf5 Raxb8 16.f3 Bxc5 draw (Sundararajan-Villavicencio. Op, 2006).
• 15.Qxf5 Ne4+ 16.Kd1 Raxb8 17.Bd3 Bxc5 18.Nb3 Qb6 19.Rc1 Bf8 20.Rc2 Bg7 21.Ke2 Rbd8 is equal (Kilpi- Maki-Uuro, Op, Jyvaskyla (Finland), 2006).
• 14...Bg6 15.Bc7 Qxc7 16.Bd3 Bxc5 17.Bxe4 dxe4 is equal (Bareev-Topalov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2004).
• If 6...h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 0-0 10.e3 then:
• 10...c6 11.Nf3 Bf5 12.Be2 Nd7 13.0-0 Qd6 14.b4 Bg4 15.a4 a6 16.h3 Bh5 17.Rfc1 Rfc8 18.b5 c5 19.bxa6 bxa6 20.Qa3 Qf6 21.dxc5 Nxc5 is equal (Shulman-Perelshteyn, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).
• 10...Bf5 11.Ne2 Rc8 12.Ng3 Be6 13.b4 a5 14.Be2 axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1+ 16.Qxa1 Qe7 17.Qc3 Qd6 18.0-0 Nc6 19.b5 Ne7 20.Ra1 gives White the advantage in space (Seirawan-Portisch, IT, Rotterdam, 1989).

6.Nf3 Qf5 7.Qb3

• If 7.Qxf5 exf5 8.a3 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.Bf4 c6 10.e3 then:
• 10...Nbd7 11.Bc4 Nb6 12.Ba2 Nfd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.Rc1 f6 16.Kd2 Bd7 17.Rc7 g5 18.Bg3 Bc6 is equal (Topalov-Anand, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2005).
• 10...Be6 11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.Nc4 Nb6 13.Na5 0-0-0 14.Be5 Ng4 15.Bg3 g5 16.h3 f4 17.exf4 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Rxd4 19.g3 Nf6 20.Be5 Rd7 21.Rc1 Re8 22.Be2 a6 is equal (Dreev-Sadvakasov, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).
• 8...Bd6 9.Nb5 Be6 10.e3 Nc6 11.Bd2 a6 12.Nxd6+ cxd6 13.Bd3 Ne7 14.Ng5 Bd5 15.f3 h6 16.Nh3 Rc8 17.Ke2 Bc4 18.Rac1 Bxd3+ 19.Kxd3 Kd7 20.e4 fxe4+ 21.fxe4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Ng4 23.Rf1 f5 24.exf5 Nxh2 is equal Timman-Jussupow, IT, Frankfurt, 1996).

7...Nc6

• If 7...c5 8.a3 Ba5 then:
• 9.e3 Nc6 10.Be2 cxd4 11.exd4 Qe4 12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.bxc3 0-0 14.Be3 Na5 15.Qb5 b6 16.Nd2 Qg6 17.Qd3 Bb7 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.0-0 Rac8 20.c4 Ba6 21.Rfc1 Rfd8 22.Rc2 Ne8 23.Rac1 Nd6 24.g4 gives White the more active game (Onischuk-Short, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1005).
• 9.Qc4 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 Nbd7 11.g3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 b6 13.Bg2 Bb7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Be3 Qh5 16.Rfe1 draw (Vera-Spraggett, Canadian Op, Winnipeg, 1997).

8.Bd2

• 8.a3 Ba5 9.e3 0-0 10.Qb5 e5 11.Bd3 Qg4 12.0-0 a6 13.Qb3 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 e4 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Qd4 exd3 18.Qxd5 Be6 19.Qxd3 Bc4 20.Qd1 Be2 21.f3 Bxd1 22.fxg4 Bxg4 gives Black the advantage in pawn structure (Beliavsky-Short, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).

8...0-0 9.h3!?

• The position is equal.
• If 9.e3 a6 then:
• 10.Be2 Bd6 11.Nh4 Qg5 12.g3 Ne8 13.f4 Qd8 14.Nf3 Be7 15.0-0-0 b5 16.Ne4 Bb7 17.Qc2 f5 18.Nc3 Qc8 19.Rhg1 Nf6 is equal (Kobalia-Sadvakasov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• 10.a3 Bd6 11.Nh4 Qg4 12.g3 e5 13.d5 Na5 14.Qc2 b5 15.h3 Qd7 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxa5 Nf6 18.Bg2 b4 19.0-0 e4 gives Black the advantage in space (Kotanjian-Parligras, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).

9...b6?!

• 9...Qg6 10.g4 Rd8 11.Rc1 Ne8 12.Bg2 a5 remains equal.

10.g4 Qa5 11.Rc1

• White has a small advantage in space.

11...Bb7 12.a3

• White opts to relieve pressure on the queenside rather than secure the center.
• 12.e4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Bxd2+ 15.Nxd2 Bxh1 gives Black a material edge.

12...Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Qd5

• If 13...Qa6 14.e4 b5 15.d5 then:
• If 15...exd5 16.Qxb5 Qxb5 17.Bxb5 then:
• 17...Nxe4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.Rxc6 Rab8 is equal.
• 17...d4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 c6 20.Bd3 gives White an extra pawn.
• 15...Nxe4?! 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Bb4 Rfd8 18.Bg2gives White a piece for two pawns.

14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.Bd2

• 15.e4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Na5 17.Nd2 Rad8 is equal

15...Nf6

• 15...Rfd8 16.Bg2 Rd7 17.g5 Rad8 18.e4 gives White an impressive pawn center.

16.Rg1 Rac8 17.Bg2 Ne7

• If 17...Nd5 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bd2 Rfd8 20.g5 hxg5 21.Bxg5 then:
• 21...f6 22.Bd2 Nde7 23.b4 a6 24.Bf4 saddles Black with weak pawns at a6 and e6.
• If 21...Rd7 22.e4 Nf6 23.Bxf6 gxf6 burdens Black with a weak doubled pawn while White boasts a proud center duo.

18.Bb4 c5 19.dxc5 Rfd8!

• Black has gained equality by giving up the pawn. He is more than compensated for the pawn in extra space.
• Black doesn't regain the pawn by 19...bxc5 20.Bxc5 Ne4 21.b4 Nxc5 22.bxc5.

20.Ne5 Bxg2

• If 20...Ne4 21.Rc4 then:
• 21...bxc5 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Bxc5 Ng6 24.Nxg6 Bxg6 25.Rg3 and White will play 26.Rgc3 protecting everything.
• If 21...a5 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Bd2 Bd5 24.Rc1 then:
• 24...Rxc5 25.Rxc5 bxc5 26.Bxa5 Ra8 27.Bc3 threatens 28.Nd7.
• 24...bxc5 25.Bxa5 Rd6 26.g5 Ra6 27.Bd2 gives White multiple threats.

21.Rxg2 bxc5?

• Black misses his chance to regain the pawn, and he won't get another.
• Correct is 21...a5 22.Bc3 Rxc5 23.Nd3 Rc6 with equality.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 21...bc5:p

22.Rxc5!

• White regains the pawn and offers to exchange Rooks.

22...Ne4 23.Rxc8!

• Exchanges are favorable to the side with the extra pawn.
• 23.Rc4 Rxc4 24.Nxc4 Rc8 25.b3 Nc6 26.Nd6 forces another exchange which at this point is favorable to White.

23...Rxc8 24.Nd3

• White has the extra pawn and works at shutting down Black's counterplay. The text, apart from attacking Black's undefended Knight at e7, keeps the Rook out of White's camp.

24...Nd5 25.Bd2 Rc2 26.Bc1 f5

• 26...Nc5 27.Kd1 Nxd3 28.exd3 Rc8 29.f4 Kf8 30.Rc2proposes to go to minor piece ending in which White has an extra pawn.

27.Kd1 Rc8 28.f3 Nd6 29.Ke1 a5

• If 29...a6 then:
• 30.gxf5 exf5 31.b4 Rc2 32.Rf2 Rc4 33.Bb2 Ne3 34.Be5 maintains White's extra pawn.
• 30.Bd2 Kf7 31.h4 Rc2 32.Kd1 Rc7 33.Rg1 maintains the pawn and prepares for White to open the kingside with advantage.

30.e3 e5 31.gxf5

• If 31.Bd2 e4 32.fxe4 fxe4 33.Nf4 then:
• 33...Nxf4 34.exf4 a4 35.Re2 Rc2 36.Bc3 Rxe2+ 37.Kxe2 White continues to enjoy an extra pawn.
• 33...Rc5 34.b4 axb4 35.Bxb4 Nxb4 36.axb4 Rb5 37.Rd2 is clearly in White's favor.

31...e4 32.fxe4 Nxe4 33.Bd2 a4

• After 33...Re8 34.Rg4 Nef6 35.Rd4 Nxe3 36.Bxe3 Rxe3+ 37.Kd2 White maintains his extra pawn.

34.Nf2 Nd6

• If 34...Nxf2 35.Kxf2 then:
• 35...Rc2 36.Kf1 Rxb2 37.e4 Nf6 38.e5 Ne4 39.Bb4 gives Black the extra pawn, but Black has opportunities to whip up some counterpaly.
• If 35...Rb8 36.Bc3 Nxc3 37.bxc3 Rb2+ 38.Kf3 then:
• After 38...Rb3 39.c4 Rc3 40.Ke4 Rxc4+ 41.Kd3 White maintains an extra pawn and more activity.
• 38...Rb5 39.Ke4 Rb3 40.Kd4 Rxa3 41.f6 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative; White has time to stop the a-pawn it it advances.

35.Rg4 Nc4

• After 35...Nxf5 36.Ke2 Rc2 37.Nd1 h5 38.Rg5 Nde7 39.Kd3 White will soon take the h-pawn.

36.e4 Nf6 37.Rg3 Nxb2

• After 37...Nxe4 38.Nxe4 Re8 39.Bc3 Rxe4+ 40.Kf2 Ne5 41.f6 Black's game crumbles.

38.e5 Nd5 39.f6 Kf7 40.Ne4 Nc4

• 40...Rg8 41.Ng5+ Kg6 42.Ne6+ Kf7 43.Nxg7 Rb8 44.Bg5 gives White two extra pawn, which are advanced, connected and mobile.

41.fxg7

• Stronger is 41.Rxg7+ Ke6 42.Ng5+ Kxe5 43.f7 Ne7 44.Nxh7.

41...Kg8

• If 41...Rg8 42.Rd3 Nxd2 43.Kxd2 then:
• After 43...Ne7 44.Nc5 Rxg7 45.Rf3+ Ke8 46.Nxa4 White still has two extra pawns.
• 43...Nb6 44.Kc3 Rc8+ 45.Kd4 Rc4+ 46.Ke3 gives White an extra pawn and more activity.

42.Rd3 Ndb6 43.Bh6

• Also good is 43.e6 Nxd2 44.e7 Re8 45.Rd8.

43...Nxe5 44.Nf6+ Kf7
BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 44...Kg8f7

45.Rc3!!

• White sacrifices a Rook and Knight, allowing him to promite the g-pawn.

45...Rxc3

• Kramnik sportingly allows Anand to win in style.
• 45...Rb8 46.g8Q+ Rxg8 47.Nxg8 Kxg8 48.Rg3+ Kf7 49.Rg7+ is no better and not as pretty.

46.g8Q+ Kxf6 47.Bg7+ 1-0

• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. European Club Cup, Kallithea

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

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

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

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Ivanchuk - van der Werf, General Competition, Round 1

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vassily Ivanchuk (Saransk) - Mark van der Werf (LSG)
European Team Championship. Round 1
Kallithea, 17 October 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Yates Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.d4

• This is the Yates Opening. With a slightly different move order, this opening is used as an anti-Marshall line.
• Masters consider this move playable, although theory prefers 9.h3 to avoid the forthcoming pin.

9...Bg4 10.Be3

• If 10.d5 Na5 11.Bc2 c6 12.h3 then:
• If 12...Bc8 13.dxc6 Qc7 14.Nbd2 Qxc6 15.Nf1 then:
• 15...Nc4 16.Ng3 Re8 17.a4 Be6 18.Ng5 Bd7 19.b3 Na5 20.Bd2 Qc7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qe2 h6 23.Nf3 Bf8 24.Ra2 Nb7 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.b4 Nd8 27.Bd3 Qb7 28.c4 bxc4 draw (C. Balogh-B. Sacko, Najdorf Mem, Warsaw, 2008).
• 15...Be6 16.Ng3 Rfe8 17.Ng5 Bd7 18.a4 h6 19.Nf3 Be6 20.Nh4 Nc4 21.Nhf5 Bf8 22.Qf3 gives White the advantage in space (Perez-van den Doel, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• 12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 cxd5 14.exd5 Nc4 15.Nd2 Nb6 16.Nf1 Ne8 17.a4 bxa4 18.Ng3 g6 19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Bxa4 Nxa4 21.Rxa4 gives White more space and more freedom (Tseshkovsky-Beliavsky, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi, 1978).

10...exd4 11.cxd4 d5

• If 11...Na5 12.Bc2 then:
• If 12...c5 then:
• If 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nbd2 then:
• 14...Nd7 15.Qb1 Re8 16.e5 Nf8 17.Bf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qd5 19.h4 Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxc4 21.h5 h6 22.b3 Qe6 23.Qf4 Rad8 24.Rad1 draw (Marjanovic-Lalic, Yugoslav ChT, Yugoslavia, 1989).
• 14...Nc6 15.Rc1 Nd7 16.h3 Bh5 17.Bb1 Rc8 18.b3 Re8 19.Qe2 Bf6 is equal (Tsesshkovsky-Rukavina, Team M, Ohrid, 1972).
• If 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 cxd4 15.Bxd4 Rc8 16.Qd1 Nd7 17.Nc3 Bf6 18.Re2 Be5 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Rd2 Rc7 21.Nd5 Rb7 22.Ne3 Qc7 23.Rc1 Nf6 24.Bb1 Qb8 25.b3 Rb6 26.Qf3 g6 27.Kh2 Rd6 28.Rcd1 Re6 29.Nd5 gives White more freedom (N. Kostintseva-van den Doel, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• If 13...Bh5 14.g4 14...Bg6 15.Nbd2 Re8 16.d5 Nd7 17.Nh2 Bh4 18.Re2 Nc4 19.Nxc4 bxc4 20.Bd2 Nf6 21.f3 h5 22.Bc3 Bg5 is equal (Yemelin-Balashov, Russian Ch ½-Finals, Kazan, 2005).
• 14.Nbd2 cxd4 15.Bxd4 Nc6 16.Nb3 Rc8 17.Rc1 Nd7 18.Bb1 Nde5 19.g4 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Bg6 leaves White's game a little loose (Manik-B. Socko, TT, Brno-Plzen, 2005).

If 12...Nc4 13.Bc1 c5 14.b3 then:

• If 14...Nb6 15.Nbd2 Nfd7 16.h3 Bh5 17.Bb2 then:
• 17...Rc8 18.Rc1 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Bf6 20.Be3 Bb2 21.Rb1 Bc3 is equal (Fedorchuk-Froeyman, Op, Condom, 2005).
• 17...Re8 18.Nf1 Bf6 19.g4 Bg6 20.e5 Be7 21.Ng3 dxe5 22.dxe5 Bxc2 23.Qxc2 Nf8 is equal (Georgiadis-Nyback, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 14...Na5 15.d5 Nd7 16.Nbd2 Bf6 17.Rb1 Bc3 18.h3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 b4 20.Rd1 Re8 21.Nf1 Qf6 22.Qxf6 Nxf6 23.f3 is equal (Bronstein-Smyslov, Intzonal, Petropolis, 1973).

12.e5

• If 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nc3 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Na5 15.Bc2 c5 16.Qd3 g6 17.Ne5 cxd4 18.Qxd4 Be6 is equal (Smyslov-Savon, Zonal, Lvov, 1978).

12...Ne4 13.Nc3

• If 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 then:
• 15...Na5 16.Bc2 Nc4 17.g4 Bg6 18.Bf5 a5 19.Bf4 b4 20.h4 Bxf5 21.gxf5 f6 22.e6 Bd6 23.Bxd6 Qxd6 24.Nd2 bxc3 25.Nxc4 dxc4 is equal (Smirnov-Sorokin, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• 15...Qd7 16.Bc2 Nd8 17.a4 Ne6 18.g4 transposes into Nisipeanu-Naiditsch (see note to White's 16th move).

13...Nxc3

• 13...Bb4 14.Rc1 Ne7 15.h3 Bh5 16.Bc2 Bxc3 17.bxc3 f5 is equal (Yates-Bolboyubov, IT, London, 1922).

14.bxc3 Qd7

• 14...f5 15.Bf4 Na5 16.Bc2 Nc4 17.Qd3 Bh5 18.e6 c6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Bg6 21.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space (Kunte-Hebden, Op, Hastings, 2003-04).

15.h3 Bh5 16.g4

• 16.Bc2 Nd8 17.a4 Ne6 18.g4 Bg6 19.Bf5 Rfc8 20.h4 h5 21.Kh2 c5 22.Rg1 hxg4 23.Bxg4 b4 24.h5 Be4 offers equal chances in a complicated position (Nisipeanu-Naiditsch, IT, Heviz, 2008).

16...Bg6 17.Bg5!?

• This novelty looks like a keeper.
• 17.Nd2 a5 18.f4 a4 19.Bc2 Bxc2 20.Qxc2 f5 21.exf6 Bxf6 gives Black a small advantage in space and more freedom (Shirov-Ivanchuk, IT, Foros, 2007).

17...Rad8?!

• 17...Bxg5 18.Nxg5 f6 19.Nf3 fxe5 20.dxe5 Rad8 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

18.Qe2 Qe6?

• 18...Bxg5 19.Nxg5 f6 20.e6 Qe7 21.Nf3 f5 is equal.

BLACK: Mark van der Werf
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 18...Qd7e6

19.a4!

• White moves to open the Queen's wing.
• 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Nd2 Na5 21.f4 is equal.

19...Bxg5

• 19...Rb8 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra6 Rfe8 22.Bxe7 Rxe7 23.Nh4 gives White the more active game.

20.axb5

• 20.Nxg5 Qe7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qxb5 Nxd4 (the Knight is a desperado)23.cxd4 Qxg5 24.Bxd5 opens the queenside wide to White's advantage.

20...Nxd4 21.Nxd4

• White begins a game of pinball with the Queen.

21...Qb6 22.Rxa6 Qc5 23.Rc6 Qe7 24.e6

• Like a stiletto to the throat, the pawn pins Black's enite position to the floor.

24...Rfe8 25.Qe5! fxe6

• If 25...Bf6 then 26.Qxc7 Qf8 27.b6! wins by exploiting two weaknesses: White can continue to advance the b-pawn or continue breaking down the King's castle walls and Black cannot defend against both..

26.Rxe6! 1-0

• Black must lose a piece.
• Mh. van der Werf resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Olarasu - T. Kosintseva, Women's Competition, Round 3

Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Gabriela Olarasu (Radnicki Rudovci) - Tatiana Kosintseva (Spartak Vidnoe)
European Team Championship (Women's Competition), Round 3
Kallithea, 19 October 2008

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d6 7.Bg5

• 6...b6 7.Bg5 c5 8.dxc5 bxc5 9.f3 Nc6 10.e3 Rb8 11.Nh3 h6 12.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space (Shen Yang-Zhao Xue, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

If 7.Nf3 b6 8.g3 Bb7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.0-0 Qe7 11.b3 then:

• If 11...c5 12.Bb2 then:
• If 12...cxd4 13.Qxd4 e5 14.Qe3 Nc5 15.h3 Rad8 16.Rad1 Nh5 17.b4 Ne6 18.Ne1 Bxg2 19.Nxg2 is equal (Shabalov-Kosten, Op, Belgrade, 1988).
• 12...Rac8 13.Rad1 d5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Nd2 Rfd8 16.e4 cxd4 17.Qxd4 e5 gives Black the advantage in space (Ftacnik-Z. Almasi, Bundesliga, Germany, 1995).
• 11...a5 12.Bb2 Be4 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.Bf1 c5 15.Nd2 cxd4 16.Qxd4 e5 17.Qc3 Rac8 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qe3 Nef6 20.Rac1 Qe6 21.Red1 d5 is equal (Korchnoi-Karpov, IT, Biel, 1992).

11.b4 c5 12.Bb2 Rac8 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.b5 is equal (Matveeva-Xu Yuhua, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

7...Nbd7 8.e3

• 8.c5 dxc5 9.dxc5 e5 10.e3 Qe8 11.Qc2 e4 is equal (Huang Qian-T. Kosintseva, Team M, Ningbo, 2008).

8...b6 9.Bd3 Bb7

• If 9...Ba6 10.Ne2 c5 11.Qc2 h6 12.Bh4 Rc8 13.Qa4 then:
• If 13...cxd4 14.exd4 Nb8 15.Rd1 then:
• 15...Qd7 16.Qb3 d5 17.Bxf6 dxc4 18.Bxc4 Bxc4 19.Qg3 g6 20.Qh4 Kh7 21.Nc3 Qc6 22.f3 draw (Lazarev-Stohl. Op, Lisbon, 2001).
• 15...d5 16.cxd5 Bxd3 17.Rxd3 g5 18.Bg3 Qxd5 19.0-0 Qc4 20.Qd1 Qc2 21.Nc3 Qxd1 22.Rfxd1 Rfd8 23.d5 Nxd5 24.f4 Kg7 25.Nxd5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 exd5 27.Rxd5 gives White the active Rook (Eljanov-T. Kosintseva, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 13...Bb7 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Rfc1 Qb8 16.Nc3 a6 17.Bg3 Rfe8 18.Qd1 Qa8 19.f3 is equal (Sarker-Milov, Op, Philadelphia, 2008).

10.f3 c5 11.Ne2 Rc8 12.b4

• 12.0-0 h6 13.Bh4 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne5 15.Rac1 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 d5 17.cxd5 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Nxd5 19.Kf2 e5 is equal (Bareev-Karpov, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2002).


• 12.Qd2 Ba6 13.Rc1 h6 14.Bh4 cxd4 15.exd4 d5 16.cxd5 Bxd3 17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.dxe6 Bxe2 19.exd7 Qxd7 20.Kxe2 g5 21.Bg3 Re8+ 22.Kd1 Qf5 23.Re1 Qb1+ 24.Qc1 Qd3+ 25.Qd2 Qb1+ draw (Lima-van der Wiel, Ol, Manila, 1992).

12...cxd4

• 12...h6 13.Bh4 d5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.b5 Ne4 16.Bxd8 Nxc3 17.Be7 Rfe8 18.Bd6 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Nb6 20.Bd3 Nca4 21.Bg3 Red8 22.Bc2 a6 23.bxa6 Bxa6 24.e4 Bxe2 25.Kxe2 Nc3+ gives Black the more active game (Kelly-Kengis, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

13.exd4 Ba6 14.Qb3 d5 15.cxd5!?

• White introduces a new move that is good for equality.
• 15.b5 dxc4 16.Bxc4 Bb7 17.0-0 h6 18.Bh4 Qe7 19.Rfe1 g5 20.Bg3 gives White the advantage in space (Beletic-Kveinys, Op, Pula, 2005).

15...Bxd3 16.Qxd3 exd5

• The game is equal.

17.0-0 h6

• If 17...Re8 18.b5 h6 19.Bd2 then:
• 19...Ra8 20.Nf4 a6 21.a4 remains equal.
• 19...a6 20.bxa6 Ra8 21.Nf4 Nb8 22.Rfb1 Rxa6 remains equal.

18.Bf4

• 18.Bd2 Rc4 19.Rfe1 Qc7 20.Ng3 Rc2 21.Rac1 Rc8 remains equal.
• 18.Bh4 Rc4 19.Rac1 b5 20.Rc2 Re8 21.Rfc1 Qb6 remains equal.

18...Re8 19.Ng3 Nf8 20.Rfe1

• 20.Rfc1 Ne6 21.Be5 Nd7 22.f4 Nxe5 23.fxe5 remains equal.

20...Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ne6 22.Be5 Nd7 23.Ne2

• 23.Qd2 Nxe5 24.dxe5 d4 25.Ne4 Qh4 26.g3 remains equal.

23...Rc4

• 23...Nxe5 24.dxe5 Qh4 25.g3 Qc4 26.Rd1 a5 remains equal.

24.Bf4 b5 25.Be3

• 25.Bg3 a5 26.Nc3 axb4 27.axb4 Nf6 28.Be5 remains equal.

25...Nb8

• 25...Qh4 26.Bf2 Qf6 27.Ng3 Nf4 remains equal.

26.Rd1

• The game remains equal.
• 26.Bf2?! Nc6 27.f4 Qf6 28.Nc3 Ncxd4 29.Nxd5 Qd8 gives Black more activity.

26...Nc6 27.Qf5 Ne7!?

• Black may be trying to provoke something be this move.
• 27...a6 28.f4 a5 29.bxa5 Ra4 30.Qc2 Nxa5 remains equal.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Gabriela Olarasu
Position after 27...Nc6e7

28.Qd3?!

• 28.Qg4 Rc2 29.Re1 Ng6 30.Qf5 Rc4 31.f4 remains equal.

28...Qc7 29.g3

• Black now has a more active game.
• After 29.Rb1 a6 30.f4 Rc2 31.Rc1 Rxc1+ 32.Bxc1 Qc4 Black is more active.

29...a6 30.Kf2 Qd7 31.Nc1

• Black continues to have the initiative after 31.Kg2 Qc6 32.Bf2 Nc8 33.Rf1 Rc2.

31...Qc6 32.Ne2

• The text is better than 32.Na2 Qc7 33.Rc1 Qd8 34.Nc3 Nc6.

32...Nc8 33.Rd2

• If 33.Kg2 Nd6 34.h3 Rc2 then:
• If 35.Rd2 Rxd2 36.Bxd2 Nc4 then:
• 37.Bc1 a5 38.bxa5 Nxa5 Black is better.
• 37.Qc3 Qd6 38.Qd3 Qd7 leaves White a little more active.
• 35.Kf2?! Qc4 36.Rd2 Rxd2 37.Qxd2 Qb3 clearly gives White the more active game.

33...Nd6 34.Kg2 Qc8 35.Rd1 Rc6 36.Qb3?

• White wastes a valuable tempo.
• 36.Rc1! then:
• 36...Rxc1 37.Bxc1 Qc6 38.Bf4 Qc4 39.Qxc4 Nxc4 gives Black the active game.
• 36...Nc4?! 37.Re1 Qc7 38.f4 Qd7 39.f5 Nd8 is equal.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Gabriela Olarasu
Position after 36.Qd3b3

36...Nc4!

• White uses the tempo to place his pieces in more active posts.
• Also good is 36...Rc2! 37.Rd2 Rxd2 38.Bxd2 Nc4!.

37.Bc1

• 37.Re1 Qe8 38.Qd3 Qe7 39.Bc1 Qf6 also gives Black the more active game.

37...Ng5 38.Nf4

• White has a real problem. The test move posts her Knight more actively, but it leaves the queenside pieces inadequately protected.
• 38.Qd3 Qh3+ 39.Kh1 Qd7 40.Rf1 Re6 is still no better than the text.

38...Nb6 39.Bd2 Rc2 40.h4 Ne6

• Black misses 40...Nc4! 41.Qxc2 Ne3+ 42.Bxe3 Qxc2+ which ought to win faster.

41.Nxe6 fxe6 42.Kg1 Qc7!

• 42...Qc4 43.Qe3 Qc6 44.Rc1 Rxc1+ 45.Bxc1 Nc4 gives Black more activity.

43.f4

• If 43.Bf4 then after 43...Qc3 44.Qxc3 Rxc3 45.Re1 Kf7 46.Rc1 Rxf3 Black wins a pawn.

43...Qc6 44.Qd3 Nd7 45.Qe3 Nf6 46.Rc1 Rc4

• Also good is 46...Ne4 47.Rxc2 Qxc2 48.Be1 Qb1.

47.Rxc4?

• This allows Black a passed pawn.
• Better is 47.Kf1 Rxc1+ 48.Bxc1 Ne4 49.Bd2 Qc2 but it is likely that White's defense would collapse sooner or later.

47...bxc4!

• 47...Qxc4? 48.Qxe6+ Kh7 49.Qe3 Ne4 50.Be1 is equal.

48.f5 exf5 49.Qe5

• 49.Qe7 c3 50.Bc1 Qe8 51.Qxe8+ Nxe8 leaves White a pawn to the good in a minor piece ending.

49...Ne4 50.Bc1

• If 50.Bf4 g5 then:
• 51.Bc1 Qd7 52.a4 Kh7 gives Black, with the extra pawn, a won game.
• After 51.hxg5 hxg5 52.Be3 Qd7 Black wins.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Gabriela Olarasu
Position after 50.Bd2c1

50...c3!

• The passed pawn exhibits his lust to expand.

51.Qxf5

• 51.h5! would make it more difficult for Black to bring her King into the fray. but after 51...Qd7 52.Qb8+ Kh7 53.Qf4 Qe6 Black is still winning.

51...Nxg3 52.Qe5 Ne4 53.h5 Qd7 54.Kh2

• 54.Qb8+ is no longer effective: after 54...Kh7 55.Qf4 Qh3 White's h-pawn falls.

54...Qg4 55.Qxd5+

• White is completely hopeless.
• If 55.Kh1 Kh7 56.Qf4 Qxh5+ then:
• If 57.Kg2 Qe2+ 58.Kh3 Kg6 59.Qe3 Qf1+ 60.Kh2 Kf5 puts White in a vise.
• After 57.Kg1 Qd1+ 58.Kg2 Qc2+ 59.Kh3 Qd3+ 60.Kg2 Nd2 Black begins to bring her kingside pawns forward.

55...Kh7 56.Qe5 Nd2 57.Kh1 Nf3 0-1

• White must give up her Queen or submit to mate.
• WGM Olarasu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Najer - Naiditsch, General Competition, Round 4

Arkadij Naiditsch
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Evgeny Najer (Saransk) - Arkadij Naiditsch (Baden Baden)
European Team Championship, Round 4
Kallithea, 20 October 2008

Open Royal Game: Classical Defense (Scotch Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bc4

• If 7.g3 d5 8.Bg2 then:
• If 8...dxe4 9.Nd2 Bb6 10.Nxe4 Qg6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc6 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Qd2 then:
• 15...Qf5 16.h3 h6 17.g4 Qb5 18.a4 Rxa4 19.Nf6+ gxf6 20.Rxa4 Qxa4 21.Qxh6 Qa5 22.Qxf6 Qc5 23.Be4 Ne7 24.Rd1 Ng6 25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kh8 27.Qh6+ Kg8 draw (Ivanchuk-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• 15...Ra5 16.Qf4 Ne5 17.Rad1 f6 18.b4 Ra8 19.Ng5 Bg4 20.Rd2 Rae8 21.Rxe5 Black resigns while a piece down (Rublevsky-Sasikiran, World Cup, 2007).
• 8...Nxd4 9.cxd4 Bb4+ 10.Nc3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 dxe4 12.Bxe4 c6 13.0-0 0-0 14.c4 Bf5 15.Bg2 Rad8 16.a4 Rd7 17.Qb3 Rfd8 18.a5 draw (Kolev-Korneev, Op, Salou, 2005).
• 8...Bxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 10.Nc3 0-0 then:
• 11.Nxe4 Qg6 12.0-0 Be6 13.Nc3 Rfd8 14.Re1 a6 15.Rc1 Nd5 16.Ne4 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Bd5 18.Nc5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Ne5 20.Qc2 is equal (Smeets-Stefanova, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Nxe4 Qg6 13.Rc1 Bf5 14.Nc3 Nb4 15.Qa4 Ned5 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Qxb7 Rab8 19.Qxa7 Rxb2 20.Qa3 gives White an extra pawn(Zhang Pengxiang-Zhong Zhang, IT, Tiayuan, 2005).

7...Ne5

• If 7...0-0 8.0-0 Bb6 then:
• 9.Na3 d6 10.Ndb5 a6 11.Nxd6 Bxe3 12.Nxc8 Bc5 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.Qe1 Ne5 15.b4 Ba7 16.Be2 f5 17.exf5 Rxf5 18.Nc4 Raf8 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.Qd2 Qh4 22.Bd5 Rh5 23.h3 Rd8 White resigns as he must lose a piece (Pape-Colombo, Corres, 1992).
• 9.Nc2 d6 10.Nd2 Be6 11.Qh5 Ng6 12.g3 Rae8 13.Bxe6 Qxe6 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Ne3 Nge7 16.Rfe1 Ne5 17.Qe2 Nd7 18.Qd3 Nc5 19.Qc2 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 is equal (Berg-Ivanchuk, Keres Mem Rapid, Tallinn, 2006).

8.Be2 Qg6 9.0-0 d6 10.f3

• If 10.Kh1 Qxe4 11.Nd2 Qg6 then:
• 12.Nb5 0-0 13.Nxc7 Rb8 14.Bh5 Qf5 15.f4 N5c6 16.Nc4 Be6 17.Nxe6 Qxe6 18.Qe2 g6 19.Bxc5 Qxe2 20.Bxe2 dxc5 21.Rad1 Rbd8 22.Kg1 Kg7 23.Kf2 b6 24.Bf3 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Rxd8 Nxd8 offers very little to either side (Laznicka-K. Georgiev, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 12.Bh5 Bg4 13.Bxg6 Bxd1 14.Bxf7+ Kxf7 15.Raxd1 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 N7c6 is equal (Ganguly-Khalifman, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

10...0-0 11.Kh1 d5 12.f4

• 12.Nd2 dxe4 13.fxe4 Bg4 14.Bf4 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Bd6 16.Rad1 Rae8 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.Qb5 Bxd4 19.cxd4 Qb6 20.Qd3 Qxb2 21.Rb1 Qxa2 22.Rxb7 f5 23.e5 Nd5 24.Nb3 Rf7 25.Ra1 Qf2 26.Qb5 Rd8 27.Rbxa7 g6 28.R7a2 Qe3 draw (Rublevsky-K. Georgiev, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

12...Qxe4 13.b4!?

• 13.Bg1 Nc4 14.Bf3 Qg6 15.Qe2 c6 16.a4 the players agreed to a draw, although Black stands much better (Movsesian-Hracek, TT, Czechia, 2001).

13...Bb6

• 13...Bh3 14.Rg1 Qxe3 15.bxc5 Bxg2+ 16.Rxg2 Qxf4 giving Black three oawns for the Bishop, the advantage in space, more activity and superior pawn structure.

14.Bg1 Bh3

• The game is equal.
• 14...Bxd4 15.cxd4 Nd7 then:
• 16.Bd3 Qe6 17.Qc2 f5 18.Qxc7 Nc6 19.b5 is equal.
• 16.Nc3 Qg6 17.Bd3 Qd6 18.Nb5 Qb6 19.Qc2 c6 gives Black a slight initiative.

15.Rf2 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Ng4?

• 16...N5c6 17.b5 Qxd4 18.Nd2 Bf5 19.bxc6 Nxc6 20.Rf1 gives White the initiative.

17.Rf3!

• Since the Black Bishop's retreat is blocked, White cuts the line of communication between the Black Queen and the focal point g2, threatening to win a piece.

BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch
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WHITE: Evgeny Najer
Position after 17.Rf2f3

17...Bxg2+!

• Black sells the desperado as dearly as possible. As a result, Black still has a pin at f3.
• Win or lose, this is the move to make.

18.Kxg2 Nf5 19.Qd2?

• After 19.Kh1! Nge3 20.Bxe3 Nxe3 21.Qd2 Nf5 22.Nc3 Qxd4 23.Rd3 White wins a pawn.

19...Nh4+!

• Black again has the initiative.

20.Kg3

• Any other move drops the Rook.

20...Qg6 21.Kxh4 Nf6 22.Re3

• White was threatening mate at g4.

22...Qxg1 23.Bf3 Rae8 24.Re5

• If 24.Rxe8 then after 24...Rxe8 25.a3 Re6 26.a4 Ne4 27.Qg2 White forces mate: 27...Rh6+ 28.Kg4 Nf6+ 29.Kg3 Qe1+ 30.Qf2 Rg6+ 31.Bg4 Rxg4+ 32.Kh3 Qxf2 33.-- Rh4#.

24...Ne4 25.Bxe4

• If 25.Qb2 then Black wins by 25...Nf2 26.h3 Qh2

25...Rxe5 26.dxe5 dxe4 27.a4

• Black wins in all variations.
• If 27.a3 then 27...Re8 28.Kh3 e3 wins.
• If 27.Kh3 then 27...h5 28.Qg2 Qd4 wins the Rook.
• If 27.f5 then 27...Re8 28.e6 fxe6 29.f6 gxf6 30.Qf4 Qd4 wins the Rook.

27...e3 28.Qe2 Re8 0-1

• The threat is 29.Re6 followed by mate on h6.
• If White moves the Knight, Black wins the Rook; if White moves the Rook, Black wins the Knight.
• Grandmaaster Najer resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Cramling - E. Atalik, Women's Competition, Round 6

This is a sparkling game by veteran grandmaster Pia Cramling that pretty much sewed up first prize for Monte Carlo.



Pia Cramling
Photo: Chessbase.de (Germany)


Pia Cramling (Monte Carlo) - Ekaterina Atalik (EPAM)
European Team Championship, Round 6
Kallithea, 22 October 2008

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Exchange Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bd2!?

• More usual is 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.Bc4 0-0.

6...0-0 7.e4

• If 7.Rc1 Nb6 then:
• If 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 c5 then:
• 11.e3 Nc6 12.dxc5 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxd1+ 14.Rxd1 Na4 15.Bc4 Nb2 16.Bb3 Nxd1 17.Kxd1 Kg7 18.Kc1 Bg4 19.h4 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Rac8 21.hxg5 hxg5 gives Black a material advantage (Szabo-Pinter, IT, Budapest, 1975).
• 11.dxc5 Bxc3+ 12.Rxc3 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1 Na4 14.Rc2 Bf5 15.Rd2 Nc6 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Nxc5 18.f3 Rfd8 19.e4 Be6 20.Bd4 Rac8 21.b4 Na4 22.h4 g4 23.h5 Bxa2 24.Be3 Nb2+ 25.Ke2 Bc4+ 26.Ke1 Rxd2 27.Bxd2 Nd3+ 28.Bxd3 Bxd3 draw (Butnorias-Weeks, Op, Dublin, 2008).
• If 8.e3 Nc6 9.Bb5 then:
• 9...e5 10.Bxc6 exd4 11.Nxd4 bxc6 12.Nce2 Qg5 13.0-0 c5 14.Nf3 Qe7 15.Bc3 Rd8 16.Qe1 Bh6 17.Ne5 Rd6 18.b3 Ba6 19.Nc4 Bxc4 20.bxc4 Nxc4 21.Ng3 Qe6 22.Rc2 Rad8 gives Black an extra pawn (Dreev-Kurnosov, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 9...Bd7 10.0-0 e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Qe2 Bxb5 14.Nxb5 c6 15.Bc3 Qe7 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Nc3 Nd5 18.Na4 Rad8 19.Rfd1 b6 20.Rd2 Rd6 21.Rcd1 Rfd8 22.Qf3 Kg7 is equal (Antoshin-Smejkal, IT, Luhacovice, 1971).

7...Nb6 8.Be3 Bg4 9.Be2 Bxf3

• If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Bxf3 then:
• If 11.gxf3 then:
• If 11...Ne5 12.Qb3 c6 13.f4 Ned7 then:
• 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.h4 Rb8 16.Qc2 e5 17.h5 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Bg3 Nbc4 20.Bxc4 Nxc4 21.Bxb8 Qxb8 22.hxg6 hxg6 White is up by an exchange, but his pieces ane not coordinated for an attack (Sergienko-Turov, Nizhnij Novgorod, Russian ChT, Nizhnij Novgorod, 1999).
• 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.h4 Nf6 16.h5 gxh5 17.Bxh5 cxd5 18.exd5 Qc4 19.Bf3 Rfd8 20.Rg1 Kf8 21.f5 Qxb3 22.axb3 gives White more freedom (Chabanon-Plachetka, Op, Cannes, 1999).
• If 11...Na5 12.Bd4 Qd6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qf6 15.f4 c6 16.dxc6 Rfd8 17.Qe3 Nac4 18.Qc5 Rac8 19.c7 Rd7 20.Bxc4 Rcxc7 21.Qg5 Rxc4 22.Qxf6+ Kxf6 gives Black better developed Rooks and superior pawn structure (Korchnoi-Kasparov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2001).
• 14.Rc1 c6 15.Qd2 Rac8 16.Nd1 cxd5 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 18.Qxa5 dxe4 19.Qd2 gives White a piece for two pawns (Terrieux-Kurnosov, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• If 11.Bxf3 Ne5 12.Be2 then:
• 12...c6 13.Qb3 cxd5 14.Rd1 Nec4 15.Bxc4 dxc4 16.Rxd8 cxb3 17.Rxa8 Rxa8 18.axb3 Nc8 19.Ke2 Nd6 20.f3 Rc8 21.Kd3 Rd8 22.Kc2 Rc8 23.Kd3 Rd8 draw (Timoshchenko-Oral, Czech ChT, Czechia, 2001).
• 12...Nec4 13.Bc1 c6 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Qc2 Qd4 16.0-0 Rfd8 17.a4 Na5 18.Rb1 Qb4 19.Bd1 c5 20.Bd2 Qc4 is equal (Iljushin-Tseshkovsky, Russian Ch ½-final, Kazan, 2005).

10.gxf3 e6 11.h4!?

• The novelty announces a clever plan to open the kingside for attack. Whill will castle long and keep her two back ranks clear of minor pieces and pawns in order to faciltate bringing the heavy pieces to the kingside.
• At the moment, White appears to have more freedom.
• If 11.Qd2 Nc6 12.0-0-0 Qh4 then:
• After 13.Rhg1?! Rfd8 14.Bg5 Qxf2 15.Bxd8 Rxd8 16.d5 exd5 17.exd5 Nd4 18.Rdf1 Qxh2 19.Rh1 Qd6 Black wins the d-pawn (Goodman-Brasket, Op, Lone Pine, 1977).
• 13.d5 exd5 14.exd5 Nb4 15.Bg5 is equal.

11...Nc6

• Black develops a piece and attacks the d-pawn. Her immediate plan is to keep pressure on the center.

12.e5 Nd5 13.h5 Nce7

• If 13...Rc8 then after 14.Qb3 Na5 15.Qa3 Nc6 16.0-0-0 Qe7 17.Qb3 White freedom has been exploited.

14.Qd2 Nxe3?

• The Knight should have remained where it was. Its outpost was unassailable and it hampered forward movement.
• If 14...Qd7 then after 15.Ne4 Rad8 16.Rc1 c6 17.Nc5 Qc8 18.Bd3 White continues to have more freedom and has a huge advantage in space.

15.fxe3!

• The real problem with Black's previous move is that it allowed White to clear the second rank of kingside pawns, making the execution of White's plan easier (see note to White's 11th move).

15...Nf5

• If 15...Nd5 then after 16.e4 Nxc3 17.bxc3 Qd7 18.f4 Rad8 19.Rd1 White dominates the center and kingside.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
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WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 15...Ne7f5

16.hxg6!

• According to plan, White opens the kingside.

16...hxg6 17.f4 c5

• 17...Qd7 18.0-0-0 Rfd8 19.Bd3 Rac8 20.Rh3 gives White the advantage in space and command of the h-file.

18.d5 exd5 19.Nxd5

• If 19.Bd3? then after 19...d4! 20.exd4 cxd4 21.Ne2 Qd5! Black has some serious counterplay.

19...Nd4

• After the more aggressive 19...Ng3! 20.Rh3 Nxe2 21.Kxe2 Qe8 22.Rah1 White is still better, but her piece coordination is disrupted.

20.Nc3

• Also good is 20.e4 Qd7 21.0-0-0 Rfe8 22.Bd3.

20...Nf5 21.Bd3 Qd7 22.0-0-0!

• So far, White has successfully executed her plan (see note to White's eleventh move).

22...Rfe8 23.Qf2 Qe6 24.Be4

• Better is 24.Bxf5 Qxf5 25.e4 Qe6 26.Nd5 Rac8 27.Qh4.

24...Rab8 25.Nd5?

• White misses 25.Bxf5 Qxf5 26.e4 Qg4 27.Rdg1 Qe6 28.Qxc5 winning a pawn.

25...Rbc8?

• Black misses the defense 25...b5 26.Bxf5 Qxf5 27.Qh4 when:
• If 27...Kf8 28.Nf6 Red8 29.Ne4 then:
• I29...Rd7 30.Rd6 Rxd6 31.Nxd6 Qe6 32.Kb1 f6 gives Black some drawing chances.
• If 29...Qxe4 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Qxd8#.
• If 27...Qh5?? then 28.Nf6+! wins the Queen.

26.Bxf5!

• White removes the defender of the h4 square, clearing the way for the Queen.

26...Qxf5
BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
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WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 26...Qe6f5:B

27.Qh4!

• White exploits the h-file. This is immediately decisive.

27...Kf8 28.Nf6 Re7

• If 28...Red8 loses to 29.Ne4 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Qe6 31.Rd8+!.

29.Qh7! 1-0

• White wins more material.
• Mme. Atalik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Shirov - Fridman, General Competition, Round 7

Alexei Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Alexei Shirov (Sverdlovsk) - Daniel Fridman (Mülheim)
European Team Championship, Round 7
Kallithea, 23 October 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Alapin Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 c5

• 6...Nbd7 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qe2 Qa5 10.e4 e5 11.dxe5 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.f3 Rd8 15.Re1 Be6 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Be3 Ne8 18.c4 Nd6 19.Rac1 Qe5 20.Red1 Qa5 21.Qc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Sämisch-Tautvaisas, Oldenburg, 1949).

7.Bxc4 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qe2 cxd4 10.Rd1 0-0 11.Nxd4

• If 11.exd4 Nb4 then:
• 12.Ne5 Bd7 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Nfxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 Bg4 17.Qc4 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Rad8 19.Qb3 Rd1+ 20.Qxd1 Bxd1 21.Be3 Rd8 22.Bxa7 draw (Braun-Ruck, Bundesliga 0708, Zehlendorf, 2008).
• 12.Bg5 Bd7 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Nbxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 h6 18.Rad1 hxg5 19.Rxd7 Qa5 20.Rxb7 draw (Gozzoli-Malakhatko, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2007).

11...Qc7 12.b3!?

• The game is equal.
• 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.a5 e5 14.e4 Rb8 15.h3 Bc5 16.Na4 Bd4 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Qxa5 19.Nc5 Qc7 20.Qa3 a6 21.Qc3 Nd7 22.b4 Re8 23.Nxd7 Bxd7 24.Rxa6 gives White the more active game (Gustafsson-Kharitonov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

12...Ne5

• 12...Nxd4 13.Rxd4 e5 14.Rd2 Bg4 15.f3 Bf5 remains equal.

13.Ncb5 Qb8 14.Ba3 Bxa3 15.Nxa3

• 15.Rxa3 Neg4 16.Nf3 Ne4 17.Rf1 a6 18.Nbd4 Qd6 remains equal.

15...b6

• 15...Neg4 16.Nf3 Ne4 17.Rf1 b6 18.h3 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Bd3 remains equal.
• 17...Ng5 18.g3 Nh3+ 19.Kg2 e5 20.e4 remains equal.

16.Rac1 Bb7 17.Ba6!?

• With this exchange offer, White subtly indicates ambition on the queenside. On the wing, Black has the better Bishop.
• 17.Bb5 Neg4 18.f4 a6 19.Bc6 e5 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.fxe5 Nxe5 remains equal.

17...Rc8

• Black prefers that his opponent take the tempo to initiate the exchange.
• 17...Bxa6 18.Qxa6 Neg4 19.g3 Rd8 20.Nc4 Ne4 remains equal.

18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.f4

• If 19.Nac2 a6 20.Nb4 Rc5 then:
• 21.f4 Ng6 22.Qf3 Qxf3 23.Nxf3 remains equal.
• 21.Rxc5?? loses to 21...bxc5!.

19...Ned7?!

• 19...Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Ng6 21.Qc2 Rd8 is equal.

20.Nc4!

• 20.Rxc8+ Rxc8 21.Nc4 Rd8 22.Nb5 Qb8 23.Qf3 a6 24.Nd4 is equal.

20...Qa6?

• Black vacates the open diagonal and allows White to take command of it.
• 20...Ne4 21.f5 Ndc5 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Qg4 remains equal.

BLACK: Daniel Fridman
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 20...Qb7a6

21.Qf3!

• Black Rook's are bound to the back rank to protect each other.
• If 21.e4 Nc5 22.e5 then:
• 22...Nd5 23.f5 exf5 24.Qf3 Ne7 25.Nd6 Rf8 26.N4xf5 gives White the active game.
• If 22...Ne8 23.Qf3 Rab8 24.Nc6 then:
• 24...Rxc6 25.Qxc6 wins the excchange for White.
• If 24...Ra8 then 25.Ne7+ wins the excchange.

21...Nc5 22.Nd6 Rf8

• This passive move is probably Black's best. He knows he's in trouble.
• 22...Rd8 23.b4 Nb3 24.Nxb3 Qxa4 25.e4 Qxb4 26.e5 gives White a material advantage.

23.b4 Ncd7 24.b5 Qxa4 25.Ra1 1-0

• 25...Qb4 26.Nc6 Qb3 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.Qxa8! Qxe3+ 29.Kh1 h6 30.Qf3 leaves Black up by a Rook.
• 28...Rxa8 29.Nxf7#.

Herr Fridman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Sunday): Anand and Kramnik draw; Vishy needs only to avoid loss

Defending world champion Vishy Anand and challenger and former champion Vladimir Kramnik played to a 45-move draw in the ninth round of their scheduled 12-game world title match in Bonn today.

Anand, with victories in games 3, 5 and 6, leads the match by a 6-3 score.

In order to draw the match and force rapid tiebreaks, Kramnik must win all three remaining scheduled game.

Round 10 will be played tomorrow with Kramnik playing White. The match ends if Anand avoids loss in tomorrow's game.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Monday): Kramnik wins game 10

Challenger and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik defeated reigning champion Vishy Anand in the tenth game of their scheduled 12-game match in Bonn today.

Anand, playing Black, resigned on the 29th move with Kramnik's heavy pieces poised to bring havoc into the heart of Anand's home camp.

The victory, Kramnik's first of the match, may be too little, too late as Anand leads, 6-4, and needs only to avoid loss in either of the remaining two games to retain his title.

The next game, in which Anand will have White, will be played Wednesday.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Tuesday): Svidler wins Russian Championship for 5th time

Grandmaster Peter Svidler of St. Petersburg won the Russian national championship today by defeating former champion Evgeny Alekseev and rising star Dmitry Jakovenko in a six round rapid playoff in Moscow.

The trio of grandmasters were tied for first place after the regularly scheduled 11-round "Superfinal" held earlier this month in Moscow with 7 points each.

Svidler, 32, previously won the Russian national championship in 1994, 1995, 1997 and 2003. He follows cricket, is a fan of Bob Dylan and speaks excellent English.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update (Wednesday): Vishy Retains Title as 11th Game Ends in Draw

World champion Vishy Anand and his challenger, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, agreed to a draw moments ago in the eleventh game of their title match in Bonn, ending the match in 6½-4½ victory for Anand.

Anand won the title a year ago in an elite tournament in Mexico City. This was his first title defense.

Anand will defend his title some time next year against the winner of a match between former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Russo-American grandmaster Gata Kamsky to be held in Lvov, Ukraine, starting November 26.