The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (January 2): Happy New Year

[Jack Rabbit]

Al Ain A Team wins Asian Club Cup



The A Team from the local chess club won First Asian Club Cup Wednesday with 12 points out of a possible 14 in Al Ain in the United Arab Emirites.

The Qi Yuan Chess Club team from China finished second and the Farj Shams Chess Club of Iran placed third. Qi Yuan also scored 12 match points, but Al Ain won the title on the basis of better tie break scores.

The Al Ain team was lead by Ukrainian grandmasters Sergey Karjakin and Zahar Efimenko and GM Baadur Jobava of Georgia. The team finished first by defeating Qi Yuan in the fifth round with the only decisive game being Jobava's win over Zhou Weiqi.

Thirty clubs competed in the Swiss System event.


New Year's Tournaments in Progress

Rilton Cup, Stockholm. Radoslaw Wojtaszek of Poland and Russia's Sergei Ivanov are tied for first with 5 points after six rounds.

Hastings Chess Congress. Igor Kurnosov of Russia is clear in first place with 5½ points after six rounds. Emanuel Berg (Sweden), David Howell (England) and Valery Neverov (Russia) are tied for second on 5 points each.


Calendar


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

Gibraltar Chess Festival 27 January-5 February.

Moscow Open 30 January-9 February.

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 16-27 February.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Sofia 16-28 February. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand for the world championship.

Linares Grandmaaster Tournament 18 February-8 March.

Cappelle la Grande Open 28 February-7 March.

European Individual Championships, Budva (Montenegro) 5-19 March.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Zhou Weiqi - Jobava, Round 5, Al Ain

Baadur Jobava
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zhou Weiqi (Qi Yuan Chess Club) - Baadur Jobava (Al Ain Chess Club A)
Asian Club Cup, Round 5/Board 3
Al Ain, 28 December 2008

Spanish Sicilian Game: Canal Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.0-0 Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 e6

• If 6...a6 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bc2 Bg4 then:
• If 9.d3 e6 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Nf1 then:
• If 12...0-0 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Nh4 then:
• 14...Nd7 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Quillan-Dronavalli, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 14...d5 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.e5 Nd7 17.d4 b4 18.Ne2 Qc7 19.a3 bxc3 20.bxc3 is equal (Akobian-Tregubov, Euro ChT, Kemer (Turkey), 2007).
• 12...Nd7 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.d4 0-0 gives White the advantage in space (Xu Yuhua-Korbut, Euro ChT, Kemer (Turkey), 2007).
• 9...e5 10.a4 Be7 11.Na3 Rb8 12.h3 Bh5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Bb3 0-0 15.Bg5 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5 gives Black the advantage in space (Quillan-Dzagnidze, Gibraltar, 2007).

7.d4 Be7 8.dxc5!?

• 8.d5 Ne5 9.a4 Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Bxb5 11.axb5 e5 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nc4 Qd7 14.Bg5 Nxd5 15.Rad1 f6 16.Rxd5 fxg5 17.Qe2 Qxb5 18.Nxd6 Qxe2 19.Rxe2 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 givews Black an extra pawn and White more space (Boleslavsky-Ilivitsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1952).

8...dxc5 9.Na3 a6 10.Bf1 b5!?

• Black prevents 11.Nc4, but allows White to assert his center.
• 10...e5 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.Bg5 Bg4 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Qe2 is equal.

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
!""""""""#
$t+ Wl+ T%
$+ +vVoOo%
$o+m+oM +%
$+oO + + %
$ + +p+ +%
$N P +n+ %
$pP + PpP%
$R BqRbK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zhou Weiqi
Position after 10...b7b5

11.e5!

• This will give Black some mobility problems on the kingside, but Black is shifting to the queenside any way.

11...Nd5 12.c4 bxc4 13.Nxc4 0-0 14.a3

• If 14.b3 a5 15.Ne3 Ncb4 then:
• 16.a3 Nxe3 17.Bxe3 Nd5 18.Rc1 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 a4 is equal.
• 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Qc4 a4 19.Bb2 Bc6 is equal.

14...Na5 15.Nxa5

• If 15.Qc2 Rb8 16.Rb1 then:
• 16...Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Bb5 18.b3 Bxc4 19.bxc4 gives White more space.
• 16...Nb3 17.Qe4 f5 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Qe5 gives White the advantage in space.

15...Qxa5 16.Bg5 Ba4 17.Qd3!?

• White misses his best chance.
• 17.b3! Bxg5 18.Nxg5 h6 19.Ne4 Bb5 20.Bxb5 axb5 21.Nxc5 gives White an extra pawn.

17...Bb5

• The game is equal.
• 17...Qd8 18.Qd2 Bb5 19.Rac1 Rc8 20.Bxb5 axb5 is equal.

18.Qe4 Bxf1 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.b4?

• This move ends up costing White a pawn.
• 20.Rxf1 Rab8 21.b4 cxb4 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.Qxb4 Rxb4 remains equal.

20...cxb4 21.axb4
BLACK: Baadur Jobava
!""""""""#
$t+ + Tl+%
$+ + MoOo%
$o+ +o+ +%
$W + P + %
$ P +q+ +%
$+ + +n+ %
$ + + PpP%
$R + RvK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zhou Weiqi
Position after 21.ab4:p

21...Qd5!!

• Black refutes White's combination.
• If 21...Qb5 22.Rxf1 Nc6 23.Rfc1 Nxb4 then:
• 24.Ng5 g6 25.Qh4 h5 26.Rcb1 is equal.
• 24.Rab1 a5 25.Ng5 g6 26.Nxf7! Qd5! is equal.

22.Kxf1

• Black wins the pawn no matter how White plays.
• If 22.Qxd5 Nxd5 23.Kxf1 Rfb8 then:
• 24.Rec1 24...Kf8 25.Rab1 Nxb4 26.Rc7 h6 Black is up by a pawn.
• 24.Reb1 Rxb4 25.Rxb4 Nxb4 26.h4 f6 27.Ra4 Nd5 gives Black an extra pawn.

22...Rfb8 23.Qe2

• If 23.Rad1 then after 23...Qxe4 24.Rxe4 Nc6 25.Rd7 Rxb4 Black wins a pawn.

23...Qb5 24.Qxb5

• If 24.Reb1 then after 24...Qxe2+ 25.Kxe2 Nd5 26.Kd2 (else 26...Nc3+) 26...Nxb4 Black wins a pawn.

24...Rxb5 25.Reb1 Nc6 26.Ne1 Rxb4

• The pawn is won.

27.Nd3

• Not only has Black won a pawn, but the extra pawn is a remote passed pawn. This is a winning advantage.
• White does not help his cause with more exchanges, for example 27.Rxb4 Nxb4 28.Ra4 a5 29.Ke2 Nd5 30.Kd3 Nb6 simply pushes the Rook back and allows the passer to advance.

27...Rxb1+ 28.Rxb1 a5 29.Rb6

• After 29.Rb3 Black shuts down White's counterplay with 29...f6 30.exf6 gxf6 31.f4 Kf7 32.g4 Rb8.

29...Nd4 30.Nc5 g5

• Black continues to restrain White's counterchances.
• If 30...f6 31.f4 Kf7 then:
• 32.g4 fxe5 33.fxe5 Rc8 34.Ne4 Rc6 gives White some counterplay.
• 32.exf6 gxf6 33.g4 Ra7 34.Rd6 Rc7 will give Black the advantage partly due to the relative King positions.

31.Rd6

• If 31.f3 Kg7 then:
• If 32.h3 then after h5 33.Kf2 Kg6 34.g4 h4 the outside passser weighs heavily in Black's favor.
• 32.Kf2 Rc8 33.Ne4 Rc2+ 34.Kf1 Kg6 35.Ra6 Nc6 maintains the pawn, but gives White some counterplay.

31...Rc8 32.Rxd4 Rxc5 33.Re4

• The White Rook is forced to pasivity.

33...h5 34.h3 Kg7 35.g4 Rb5

• Closing the kingside with 35...h4 accentuates Black's passed-apawn and advantage in the center after 36.f3 f6 37.exf6+ Kxf6 38.f4 e5.

36.f3 h4 37.Kf2

• 37.Re3 a4 38.Ra3 Rb4 39.Ke2 f6 40.exf6+ Kxf6 brings the Black King into the battle.

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + +oL %
$ + +o+ +%
$Ot+ P O %
$ + +r+pO%
$+ + +p+p%
$ + + K +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zhou Weiqi
Position after 37.Kf1f2

37...Rb4!

• The a-pawn will advance.

38.Re2 a4 39.Ra2 Kf8

• If 39...f6 40.Ke3 fxe5 41.Ra3 e4 42.fxe4 then:
• 42...Kf6 43.Ra2 Ke5 44.Kd3 Kf4 wins the e-pawn.
• Also good is 42...Rb3+ when Black wins the King-and-pawn ending after 43.Rxb3 axb3 44.Kd2 Kf6 45.Kc3 Ke5.

40.Rc2 Rb8 41.Ra2 Ra8 42.f4 a3

• Also good is 42...gxf4 43.Kf3 Ra5 44.Kxf4 a3 45.Ke4 Ke7.

43.fxg5

• 43.Ke3 Ra4 44.fxg5 Kg7 45.Kf3transposes into the text.

43...Kg7 44.Kf3

• 44.Ke3 Kg6 45.Kf4 Ra4+ 46.Kf3transposes into the text.

44...Kg6 45.Kf4 Ra4+ 46.Kf3 Kxg5 47.Ke3

• 47.Ra1 fails against 47...a2 48.Ke3 Ra3+ 49.Ke4 f5+ 50.exf6 Kxf6 51.Rf1+ Kg6.

47...f5 48.exf6 Kxf6 49.Ke2 Ra5 0-1

• If 49...Ra5 50.Kd2 e5 then:
• If 51.Ke3 then after 51...Ra4 52.Kf3 Kg5 53.Ke3 e4 54.Ke2 Kf4 the e-pawn advances.
• If the King runs the other way 51.Kd3 then Black wins after 51...Ra4 52.Kc2 Kg5 53.Kb3 Rf4 54.Rxa3 Rf3+.
• Zhou resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Cramling - Kantons, Round 2, Stockholm

A cramped position contains the germ of defeat.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- Siegbert Tarrasch

Like most of Dr. Tarrasch's other axioms delivered in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century, this one has been shown to be somewhat exaggerated. Nevertheless, like most of his other axioms, it's still true more often than not.

In the following game, Pia Cramling, the third seed in Stockholm this week, completely crushes her opponent like a boa constrictor crushes its prey in its coils.



Pia Cramling
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Pia Cramling - Toms Kantans
Rilton Cup, Round 2
Stockholm, 28 December 2008

Symmetrical English Game: Catalan Opening

1.d4 e6 2.g3 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Bg2 Bc5

• 5...Nf6 6.c4 Qb6 7.Nc2 d5 8.0-0 Be7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Be6 13.Qh5 Bf6 14.e4 Ne5 15.Ne3 Nd3 16.a4 Rac8 17.Qe2 Qb3 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Rc2 20.Qf3 Rxc1 21.Raxc1 Nxc1 22.Rxc1 Qxa4 23.Rc7 Qb4 24.d6 Qxd6 25.Qxb7 Bd8 26.Rc8 draw (Stefanova-Karjakin, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).

6.Nb3 Be7 7.c4 Nf6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.0-0 a6

• If 9...d6 10.Bf4 Nh5(10...a6 transposes to the text) 11.Be3 then:
• If 11...Nf6 12.Rc1 Ng4 13.Bd2 Bd7 14.e4 Nge5 15.Qe2 a5 16.Be3 a4 17.Nd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Gheorghiu-Hulak, IT, Surakarta, 1982).
• 11...Ne5 12.c5 d5 13.Bd4 Nc6 14.e4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qf4 Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Rfe1 gives White the advantage in space (Mikhalchishin-Kasparov, Baku, 1980).

10.Bf4 b5?

• Black introduces a new move that seems as good as any on which to pin his defeat.
• If 10...d6 11.Rc1 Ng4 12.Na4 then:
• 12...Na5 13.Bd2 Nxb3 14.Qxb3 Bd7 15.Nb6 Rb8 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space (B. Lalic-Pacher, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2007).
• 12...Rb8 13.h3 b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Rxc6 bxa4 16.Rxd6 Bxd6 17.Qxd6 e5 18.Qxb8 exf4 19.Nc5 gives White an extra pawn (Vladimirov-Kunte, Op, Kelamabakkam, 2000).

11.c5!?

• The situation is already bad for Black.
• 11.Nxb5! axb5 12.cxb5 Bb7 13.bxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxc6 dxc6 gives White an extra pawn.

11...Bb7 12.Qd2 Qc8

• If 12...Na5?! 13.Nxa5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qxa5 then:
• 15.Nd5! 15...Qxd2 16.Nxe7+ Kh8 17.Bxd2 gives White the advantage in space.
• 15.a3?! b4 16.axb4 Qxb4 gives Black a strong initiative.

BLACK: Toms Kantans
!""""""""#
$t+w+ Tl+%
$+v+oVoOo%
$o+m+oM +%
$+oP + + %
$ + + B +%
$+nN + P %
$pP QpPbP%
$R + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 12...Qd8c8

13.Rac1!

• White is already planning to restrain Black's queenside and center.

13...Nb4

• 13...Nd8 14.e4 Nc6 15.Bd6 Bxd6 16.cxd6 gives White more freedom; Black has no way to extricate himself from a cramped position.

14.e4 Rd8 15.Na5 Nc6

• 15...Ne8 16.Na4 bxa4 17.Qxb4 Bc6 18.Rfd1 Nf6 19.Bd6 leaves Black totally disprganized.

16.Nxb7 Qxb7 17.e5 b4

• If 17...Ne8 18.Ne4 b4 19.Rfd1 then:
• If 19...Qb5 20.Bg5 Rac8 21.Bxe7 Nxe7 22.Bf1 Qb7 23.Qd3 White maintains the advantage in space.
• 19...Rab8 20.Qd3 Qb5 21.Qxb5 Rxb5 22.Rd3 Black will never be able to untangle himself.

18.Na4

• If 18.exf6 bxc3 19.Rxc3 Bxf6 20.Rb3 then:
• If 20...Qa7 21.Bd6 Rdc8 22.Rd1 has Black completely boittled up.
• 20...Qc8 21.Bd6 Nd4 22.Rd3 Nc6 23.b4 gives Black few choices.

18...Ne8 19.Rfd1 Ra7

• 19...Qc7 20.Nb6 Ra7 21.Qe3 a5 22.Nc4 leaves Black unable to move any of his pieces forward.

20.Nb6 Qc7 21.Qe3 Na5

• 21...a5 22.Nc4 a4 23.Nd6 Qa5 24.Rc4 continues to give White more freedom.

22.h4 h6

• 22...Nc6 23.Nc4 Rb8 24.Rd2 Qb7 25.Nd6 Qc7 26.h5 White prepares to attack on the kingsiode; Black cannot even relieve his suffocation through exchanges.

23.h5 Qb8 24.Be4 Rc7

• If 24...Qc7 then after 25.Bxh6 f5 26.exf6 Bxf6 27.Bf4 e5 28.Bg5 White has command of all open lines on the board.

BLACK: Toms Kantans
!""""""""#
$ W Tm+l+%
$+ ToVoO %
$oN +o+ O%
$M P P +p%
$ O +bB +%
$+ + Q P %
$pP + P +%
$+ Rr+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 24...Ra7c7

25.Bxh6!!

• After spending the entire game squeezing Black in her coils, White prepares to bite.
• 25.Qd4 b3 26.Qa4 Nb7 then:
• 27.Nxd7 Rdxd7 28.Rxd7 Nxc5 29.Rxc5 Bxc5 30.axb3 gives White an extra pawn.
• Also good is 27.Bxb7 Qxb7 28.Be3 bxa2 29.Qxa2 Qf3 30.b4 giving White the advantage in space.

25...Bxc5

• If 25...gxh6 26.Qxh6 then:
• If 26...f5 27.Nxd7 then:
• 27...Rdxd7 28.Qxe6+ Kh8 29.Rxd7 fxe4 30.c6 Nxc6 31.Rxc6 the end is near.
• 27...Rcxd7 28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Qxe6+ Kf8 30.Qh6+ Kf7 31.e6+
• 26...Bg5 27.Qxg5+ Kf8 28.h6 Rxc5 29.Rxc5 f6 30.h7 leads to checkmate.

26.Rxc5 Qxb6 27.Rxc7 Qxc7 28.Bxg7 Nxg7

• 28...Kxg7 29.h6+ Kh8 30.Qg5 f6 31.exf6 d5 32.Bg6.

29.Qg5 d5

• 29...Kh8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Qh8+ wins a piece.

30.h6 f5 31.exf6 Nc4 32.h7+ Kh8 33.fxg7+ 1-0

• 33...Qxg7 34.Qxd8+ Qg8 35.Qxg8#.
• Herr Kantans resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Kurnosov - Hebden, Round 4, Hastings

Igor Kurnosov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Igor Kurnosov - Mark Hebden
Chess Congress, Masters Tournament, Round 4
Hastings, 31 December 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6

• 11...Nf6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.h3 Ng4 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.d4 Nxf2 16.Re2 Bg4 17.hxg4 Bh2+ 18.Kf1 leaves White up by a Bishop, but his King is badly exposed and under attack Capablanca-Marshall, Manhattan CC Ch, New York, 1918).

12.d4

• If 12.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 then:
• If 13...Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 then:
• If 15...Qf5 16.Nd2 Qg6 17.Re1 f5 then:
• 18.Qf3 Kh8 19.Bd1 f4 20.g4 h5 21.h3 Nf6 22.Qg2 hxg4 23.hxg4 White maintains the extra pawn (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1999).
• 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ne4 fxe4 21.dxe4 Bg4 22.Qd4 Bf3 23.exd5 c5 24.Qh4 Rbe8 25.Be3 Qf5 26.Rac1 Be4 27.Bd1 Bxd5 28.Bc2 White retains the extra pawn (Anand-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2000).
• 15...Qd7 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Re1 c5 18.Ne4 Be7 19.a4 b4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Nxg5 bxc3 22.bxc3 Rad8 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Qh5 gives White the extra pawn and the advantage in space (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Tilburg, 1997).
• If 13...Bf5 14.Qf3 then:
• If 14...Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Bxd3 20.Be3 then:
• 20...Rfe8 21.Nd2 b4 22.Bb6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Rb8 24.Ba5 White retains the pawn (Shirov-Leko, IT. Morelia/Linares, 2008).
• 20...Be4+ 21.f3 Bc6 22.Nd2 Rfe8 23.Bd4 Rxe1 24.Rxe1 White retains the pawn (Leko-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2008).
• 14...Re8 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Nd2 Qe1+ 17.Nf1 Bg6 18.g3 Re8 19.Bd1 Qe6 20.Bd2 Qh3 21.a4 b4 22.Rc1 h6 23.c4 Ne7 24.d4 Qd7 25.Be3 c5 26.dxc5 Be5 27.Qe2 Nc6 28.a5 Nxa5 is equal (Dolmatov-Kamsky, IT, Dortmund, 1993).

12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Qe2


• If 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6 18.a4 then:
• 18...Qh5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qf1 Bh3 21.Qe2 Bg4 22.Qf1 Bh3 23.Qe2 Bg4 draw (J. Polgar-Dr. Nunn, IT, Munich, 1991).
• 20...Rfe8 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.h3 Bf5 23.Qg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 R6e7 25.b3 White still has the extra pawn.(Kasimdzhanov-Leko, IT, Linares, 2005).
• 18...f5 19.Qf1 Qh5 20.f4 transposes into the next note.
• 15.Re4 g5 then:
• If 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.f3 Nf6 19.Qg2 Qg6 20.Re3 then:
• 20...Rae8 21.Ne4 Nd5 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Nxd6 Qxd6 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Bxg5 Qe6 26.g4 Bd3 27.Rd1 Qe1+ 28.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 29.Kf2 Re2+ 30.Kg3 Rxg2+ 31.Kxg2 leaves White two pawns to the good (Anand-Aronian, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2007).
• 20...Nd5 21.Re1 Rae8 22.Qf2 Nf4 23.gxf4 gxf4+ 24.Kh1 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Kh8 26.Qg1 Qh5 27.Qf2 Rg8 28.Bd1 Bh3 29.Be2 Be7 30.Bd3 Bh4 31.Qe2 Qg5 32.Qe5+ Qxe5 33.dxe5 Bf2 White resigns (Shomoev-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 16.Qf3 Bf5 17.Bc2 Bf4 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Nd2 Bg4 20.Qh1 f5 21.Rxf4 gxf4 22.Qxc6 Rae8 23.Bd3? (23.Bb3+!) 23...fxg3! 24.hxg3 f4 25.Bf1 Qh5 gives Black the initiative to attack White's King (Noble-Sarfati, Op, Aukland, 1992).

15...Bg4

• 15...Bd7 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 18.Ne4 Bh3 19.Bd1 Qf5 20.Qd3 Qg6 21.Bd2 Bf5 22.Bf3 Bf4 23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Qd2 Nh3+ 25.Kg2 Rxe4 26.Bxe4 Bxe4+ 27.Rxe4 Qxe4+ 28.Kxh3 Re8 is equal (An. Volokitin-Fressinet, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2

• 17.Be3 Rae8 18.Nd2 Re6 19.a4 f5 20.f4 bxa4 21.Rxa4 Rb8 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Qg2 Qe8 24.Qxd5 Kh8 25.Nc4 Bxf4 26.gxf4 Rg6 27.Nd6 Bf3+ 28.Kf1 Bxd5 29.Nxe8 Rxb2 30.Re2 Rb1+ 31.Re1 Rb2 32.Re2 Rb1+ 33.Re1 Rb2 34.Re2 Rb1+ 35.Re1 draw (Kamsky-J. Polgar, IT, Linares, 1994).

17...Nf4!?

• Black poffers a Knight in a new move.
• If 17...Rae8 18.f3 Rxe1 19.Qxe1 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Qxf3 21.Bd2 then:
• 21...Qg4 22.Qd1 Qd7 23.Qf3 Nb6 24.Rf1 Nc4 25.Bc1 c5 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.d5 is equal (An. Volokitin-Kurnosov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 21...h5 22.Qd1 Qf5 23.Bc2 Qh3 24.Qf3 g6 25.Bh6 gives White the initiative (Caruana-Negi, Coruc C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

18.gxf4 Bxf4 19.h4 Rae8?

• Black novelty should lead to a draw, but only if followed up coirrectly.
• 19...Qxh4! 20.Qg2 Bh3 21.Qxc6 Qg5+ 22.Kh1 Bxd2 23.Re5 is equal.

20.Ne4 Bb8

• After 20...Qxh4 21.Bxf4 Bf3 22.Ng3 Qxf4 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Re1 White remains a piece to the good.

21.Qg2 Kh8 22.Bg5 f6

• If 22...h6 then after 23.Nf6! Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Qg6 25.Nxg4 White remains a piece up.

BLACK: Mark Hebden
!""""""""#
$ V +tT L%
$+ + + Oo%
$o+o+ O +%
$+o+ + Bw%
$ + On+vP%
$+bP + + %
$pP + pq+%
$R + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 22...f7f6

23.Nxf6!!

• Returning the Knight wins outright.
• 23.Bd2?! Bf3 24.Ng3 Qg4 25.Qh2 f5 is equal.

23...Rxe1+

• The Knight cannot be accepted.
• 23...gxf6?? 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Bxf6#.
• 23...Rxf6?? 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Rxe8+ loses a Rook.

24.Rxe1 gxf6 25.Re4!

• The sham sacrifice of the Bishop nets White a second pawn.
• The text is clearly better than 25.Bh6 Qxh6 26.Qxg4 f5 27.Qf3 Bf4 28.Kf1.

25...fxg5 26.Rxg4 Bf4 27.hxg5

• White takes the pawn.

27...Re8 28.Kf1 Bd2 29.Re4 Rf8 30.Re2 Qxg5

• 30...Bxg5 31.Qxc6 Qh2 32.Qg2 Qf4 33.Qd5 keeps Black down two pawns.

BLACK: Mark Hebden
!""""""""#
$ + + T L%
$+ + + +o%
$o+o+ + +%
$+o+ + W %
$ + P + +%
$+bP + + %
$pP VrPq+%
$+ + +k+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 30...Qh5g5:p

31.Qxc6!

• White has two passed pawns, but both are headed for dark promotion squares, which would be to the defender's benefit should this come down to a Bishops of opposite colors ending.

31...Bf4 32.Re8 Bd6

• 32...Rxe8 loses to 33.Qxe8+ Kg7 34.Qg8+ Kh6 35.Qf8+ Kh5 36.Qf7+ Kh4 37.Qxh7+ (all forced).

33.Rxf8+ Bxf8 34.Qe6 a5 35.Qf7 Qg7 36.Qd5!

• The text is stronger than 36.Qxg7+ Bxg7 37.Be6 h5 38.d5 when White's pawns are still headed for dark promotion squares subject to being guarded by Black's Bishop.

36...a4 37.Bc2 Qh6

• 37...b4 38.cxb4 Qg8 39.Qe5+ Bg7 40.Qe4 gives White three extra pawns.

38.Ke2 Qf4

• 38...Qc1 39.Qf5 Kg7 40.Qxh7+ Kf6 41.Qf5+ Ke7 42.Qc5+ keeps Black under control.

BLACK: Mark Hebden
!""""""""#
$ + + V L%
$+ + + +o%
$ + + + +%
$+o+q+ + %
$o+ P W +%
$+ P + + %
$pP +kP +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 38...Qh6f4

39.Qe5+!

• White forces the exchange of queens and points a pawn toward a light promotion square.

39...Qxe5+ 40.dxe5 Bh6 41.Bd3 Kg7

• No better is 41...Bf4 42.Bxb5 Bxe5 43.Bxa4.

42.Bxb5 a3 43.b4

• 43.bxa3 is also good, but the text gives White connected passed pawns.

43...Bf4 44.e6 Kf6 45.Bd3 h5 46.Bf5!

• White throws in some last-second finesse. If Black takes the poffered Bishop, the e-pawn queens.

46...Bd6 47.Bh3 Ke5 48.Kd3 1-0

• After 48...Be7 49.Kc4 h4 50.Kb5 Kd6 51.c4 Black cannot stop the connected passers./li]
• Mr. Hebden resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Ni Hua - León Hoyos, Round 4, Reggio Emilia

Ni Hua
Photo: ChessBase.com


Ni Hua - Manuel León Hoyos
Torneo di Capodanno, Round 4
Reggio Emilia, 30 December 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Zaitsev Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.d5

• If 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 x 17.Ra3 then:
• If 17...f5 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Rf3 Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Ng4 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 22...Ra7 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Re7 is equal (Haba-Dervishi, Austrian ChT, 2003).
• 17...c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Be3 Qd8 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6 is equal (Timofeev-Inarkiev, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• If 12.a3 g6 then:
• If 13.Ba2 Bg7 14.b4 a5 15.d5 Ne7 then:
• 16.Bb2 Nh5 17.Nb3 axb4 18.axb4 Bc8 19.Na5 Nf4 20.c4 g5 21.cxb5 g4 22.Nh2 gxh3 23.g3 Neg6 24.Bb1 Qg5 25.Bc1 is equal (Adams-Grischuk, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 16.Nb3 axb4 17.cxb4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Bxd5 19.Nfd2 then:
• 19...Bxe4 20.Nxe4 h6 21.Bb2 Kh7 22.g4 Rf8 23.Rc1 f5 24.gxf5 Nxf5 is equal (Iordachescu-Nikolic, IT, Valjevo, 2007).
• 19...f5 20.Re1 e4 21.Na5 Qd7 22.Bxd5+ Nxd5 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Shen Yang, TMatch, Ningbo, 2008).
• 13.Bc2 Bg7 14.d5 Nb8 15.c4 c6 16.b4 Qc7 17.Bb2 bxc4 18.dxc6 Nxc6 19.Nxc4 Rad8 20.Ba4 Nxe4 21.Qc2 d5 draw (Sax-Short, Intrznl, Biel, 1985).
• If 12.Bc2 g6 13.d5 Nb8 14.b3 c6 15.c4 then:
• If 15...Nbd7 16.a4 Qc7 17.Ba3 Rec8 18.Bd3 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qb6 20.b4 Rc3 21.Nb1 Rcc8 22.Bc1 bxa4 23.Qxa4 Qd8 24.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space (Smyslov-Gligoric, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 15...a5 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Nc4 Na6 19.Bg5 Nb4 20.Bb1 Bxc4 21.bxc4 h6 22.Be3 Qc7 23.a3 Na6 24.Nd2 Nc5 25.Bc2 Reb8 26.Rb1 Qc6 27.Qf3 Bg7 28.Rec1 Nfd7 29.Qd1 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1991).

12...Nb8 13.Nf1 Nbd7 14.N3h2

• 14.Ng3 g6 15.Be3 Nc5 16.Bc2 c6 17.b4 Ncd7 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Bb3 Nb6 20.Qd3 Rb8 21.Rad1 Rb7 22.Nh2 Bd7 23.Bxb6 Rxb6 24.Ngf1 Bh6 25.Ne3 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 Be6 27.Nf3 Kg7 28.Rd3 Qc7 is equal (Short-Ivanchuk, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1994).

14...Rc8

• If 14...Nc5 15.Bc2 c6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Bg5 then:
• 18...h6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Bd7 22.Qf3 Rc8 23.Bb3 Be6 24.Red1 Re7 25.Qd3 Rec7 26.Rac1 Qg5 27.Rc2 d5 28.Ng3 draw (Gashimov-Inarkiev, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 18...Qc7 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.hxg4 Bb7 22.Re3 Be7 23.Bb3 Bg5 24.Rf3 Rf8 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Rd1 Be6 27.Ne3 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 a5 29.Bxe6 fxe6 is equal (Carlsen-Navara, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

15.Bg5!?

• The novelty should be good for equality.
• 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.Qxg4 Nc5 17.Bc2 c6 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Ne3 g6 20.Rd1 Bh6 21.b4 Ne6 22.Bb3 Kh8 23.Nd5 Bxc1 24.Raxc1 Rf8 25.Rc2 f5 is equal (Leko-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).

15...h5?!

• The young Mexican grandmaster perhaps senses he's walking into Ni's home preperation and plays an offbeat move to get him out of it.
• 15...Be7 16.Ng3 Nc5 17.Nf3 Nxb3 18.Qxb3 Nxd5 is equal.

16.a4

• As a consequence of Black's last move, White has the best minor piece on the board (the Bishop at g5) and a little extra space.
• 16.Ng3 g6 17.a4 Nc5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bc2 increases White's advantage in space.

16...g6 17.Nf3 Nc5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bc2

• This reaches a position similar to the note to White's 16th move; White has the advantage in space.

19...c6

• Black begins to nibble at White's center.

20.b4

• White's pushes back against Black's best posted minor piece.

20...Ncd7 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.Bb3

• The Bishop seizes the open diagonal. The focus of the battle is the d5 square.

22...Qc7 23.Nh4 Kg7?

• Black tries to directly defend g6, but this proves inadequate.
• If 23...Nxe4 then:
• 24.Nxg6 Nxg5 25.Qxh5 Nxh3+ 26.Qxh3 Bg7 is level.
• 24.Bc1?! d5 25.Rxe4 dxe4 26.Nxg6 Bg7 27.Ng3 Nf6 puts Black an exchange to the good with more opportunities to create threats in the center.

24.Ng3 Qb7

• Black again adds to the pressure on d5, but now it's too late.

BLACK: Manuel León Hoyos
!""""""""#
$ +t+tV +%
$+w+m+oL %
$ +vO Mo+%
$+o+ O Bo%
$ P +p+ N%
$+bP + Np%
$ + + Pp+%
$R +qR K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 24...Qc7b7

25.Nhf5+!!

• The sacrifice breaks open the path to Black's King for White's remaining pieces.

25...gxf5 26.exf5 Bxg2 27.Re3?

• White misses the winning move and now should lose.
• If 27.Nxh5+! Nxh5 28.Qxh5 Bd5 29.Bh6+ Kg8 30.Re3 then:
• If 30...Bxh6 31.Bxd5 Bxe3 32.Bxb7 Black loses the Queen.
• If 31...Qxd5 then after 32.Qxh6 Nf8 33.Rg3+ Ng6 34.f6! mate at g7 cannot be averted.
• 30...Rxc3 31.Rxc3 Bxh6 32.Qxh6 Bf3 33.Qg6+ leavews White an exchange to the good.

27...Kh7!?

• Now it's Black's turn to miss a winning line.
• If 27...Kh8! then:
• After 28.Bxf7 Bxh3 29.Ne4 Re7 30.Bxh5 Nxe4 31.Bxe7 Bxf5 Black has the material advantage of two minor pieces to a Rook.
• If 28.Nxh5 Bh1 29.f3 Nxh5 then:
• 30.Bxf7 Ng3 31.Bxe8 Rxe8 32.Kh2 Nxf5 33.Re4 Rc8 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece.
• 30.Bd5 Qb6 31.Kxh1 Ng3+ 32.Kh2 Be7 33.Kxg3 Bxg5 gives Black an extra piece.

28.Bxf6

• Black should still win.
• If 28.Bxf7 Bxh3 29.Ne4 then:
• If 29...Bg4! 30.Bg6+ Kh8 then:
• 31.f3 Nxe4 32.Rxe4 Qxe4 33.fxe4 Bxd1 34.Rxd1 Re7 leaves Black a Rook to the good.
• 31.Nxd6 Bxd6 32.Qxd6 Rc6 33.Qd3 Rec8 34.Ra3 e4 keeps Black a piece up.
• If 29...Bxf5? 30.Bxf6! then:
• If 30...Nxf6 31.Nxf6+ Kg7 32.Bd5 Qe7 33.Rg3+ then:
• If 33...Bg6 34.Ra7 Qxa7 35.Qxh5 then:
• 35...Qf7 36.Bxf7 Kxf6 37.Qxg6+ Ke7 38.Qe6+ crushes Black.
• 35...Qa1+ 36.Kh2 Qb1 37.Ng8 Rxc3 38.Qh6#.
• If 33...Kxf6 then after 34.Qxh5 e4 35.f4 Qe6 36.Qg5+ Kf7 37.Ra7+ White soon mates.
• 30...Bxe4 31.Qxh5+ Bh6 32.Qxh6+!! Kxh6 33.Rh3#.

28...Bh6?

• Black fails to see that his position on the kingside is cramped; the exchange of minor pieces is in order.
• After 28...Nxf6! 29.Nxh5 Ng8 30.Bxf7 Qxf7 31.Kxg2 Qxf5 Black remains a piece to the good and wins.

29.Bg5 Rg8
BLACK: Manuel León Hoyos
!""""""""#
$ +t+ +t+%
$+w+m+o+l%
$ + O + V%
$+o+ OpBo%
$ P + + +%
$+bP R Np%
$ + + Pv+%
$R +q+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 29...Re8g8

30.Bxh6!!

• White finds the winning move when most other moves lose.
• If 30.h4?! then 30...Bxg5 31.hxg5 Rxg5 32.Qxd6 Bh1 33.Kf1 h4! equalizes.
• 30.f4? Bxh3 31.Qe2 exf4 32.Bxf4 Bxf4 leaves Black a piece up with open lines to the White King.

30...Bh1

• Although Black threatens mate, his game is lost.
• After 30...Nf6 White palys 31.Kh2 Kxh6 32.Qxd6 Rc6 33.Qxe5 reaching a position similar to the text.

31.Kf1 Nf6

• Black spends the rest of the game avoiding even worse carnage.
• If 31...Qc6 32.Qxh5 Bg2+ 33.Ke2 then:
• If 33...Nf6 then 34.Qxf7+ Kxh6 35.Qxf6+ Kh7 36.Qf7+ Kh6 37.Qh5+ Kg7 38.Qg6+ Kh8 39.Qh6#.
• If 33...d5 then 34.Bf8+ and White mates on the next move.

32.Qxd6 Bg2+

• If 32...Qg2+ 33.Ke2 Qc6 34.Ra6 then:
• If 34...Qxd6 35.Rxd6 Rc6 36.Rxc6 Bxc6 37.Bxf7 Kxh6 38.Bxg8 gives White a prohibitive material advantage.
• 34...Qe8 35.Qxf6 Rc7 36.Bf4 leaves Black little point in continuing.

33.Ke1 Rc6

• 33...Ne8 34.Qd1 Rc6 35.Qxh5 Rxh6 36.Qxf7+ leaves White up by three pawns.

34.Qxe5 Kxh6 35.Rd1 Bxh3

• 35...Qc7 36.Ne2 Qxe5 37.Rxe5 Rc7 38.Rxb5 leaves White up by three pawns.

36.Rd6 Rxd6 37.Qxd6 Kg7

• 37...Qa7 38.Qxf6+ Kh7 39.Bd1 Rg7 40.Qh4 leaves White up by more than a piece.

38.Re7 Qxe7+

• If 38...Qf3 then after 39.Rxf7+ Kh8 40.Qxf6+ White mates on the next move.

39.Qxe7 Re8
BLACK: Manuel León Hoyos
!""""""""#
$ + +t+ +%
$+ + QpL %
$ + + M +%
$+o+ +p+o%
$ P + + +%
$+bP + Nv%
$ + + P +%
$+ + K + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ni Hua
Position after 39...Rg8e8

40.Nxh5+!

• The text wins faster than 40.Qxe8 Nxe8 41.Nxh5+ Kf8 42.Bc2.

40...Kh6

• No better is 40...Kh8 41.Qxe8+ Nxe8 42.Bxf7 Nd6 43.Be6 Kh7 44.Ng3.

41.Qxe8 Nxe8 42.Bxf7 Nd6 43.Bg6 Bxf5

• After 43...Nxf5 44.Bxf5 Bxf5 45.Ng3 Bd7 46.Ne2 Kg5 47.Kd2 Kf5 48.Ke3 leaves White with pawn majorities on both wings.
• If 44...Kxh5 then 45.Bxh3 followed by 46.Bf1 is enough to turn out the lights.

44.Bxf5 Nxf5 45.Ng3 1-0

• White has pawn majorities on both wings, enough to win any Knight-and-pawn ending.
• El señor León resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Update (Saturday): Ni Hua takes Reggio Emilia

Reigning Chinese national champion Ni Hua clinched first prize the 51st annual Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia, Italy, today when he took a point and a half lead over the field with only one round remaining after defeating Hungarian grandmaster Zoltan Almasi.

Almasi, who had the early lead in the event after scoring wins in each of his first four games, entered the penultimate round only a half point behind Ni and playing White. Ni defended responded to Almasi's 1.e4 with a Sicilian Game and then steered into the razor sharp Sveshnikov Defense. In the endgame, Black has a Bishop against two extra pawns for White. Black was able to maneuver his Bishop so that White could not make progress and eventually had to give up his pawns while Black obtained a passed pawn on the h-file. Almasi resigned on the 41st move.