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16. Domínguez Pérez - Ivanchuk, Round 7

Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk won his sixth title in the Capablanca Memorial Tournament series.

This is a particularly exciting game. In a style of play remincent of Viktor Korchnoi, Black lets White have an early initiative that results in a better center, and then Black challenges White to defend his advantage. The tables when White releases tension in the center (19.e5?!), allowing Chuckie to seize the initiative and drive his newfound advantage home.
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Vassily Ivanchuk
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vassily_Ivanchuk)
(Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en), Attribution/Share Alike)]
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http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1665791
Leinier Domínguez Pérez - Vassily Ivanchuk
47th Capablanca Memorial Tournament, Round 7
Havana, 11 May 2012

Scandanvian Game: Valkyrie Defense (Mieses Variation)

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Bd2 c6

For a survey on the Scandanavian Game, see Tal-W. R. Chandler, XG, Knotty Ash, Lancashire, England, 1974.

6.Bd3 Bg4

• Engines evaluate this position as quite favorable to White with 7.Nf3 and 7.Nge2 being what is most often recommended.

7.f3

• [font color="red"]7.Ne4 Bxd1 8.Nxf6+ exf6 9.Bxa5 Bh5 10.f4 Bd6 11.f5[/font] gives White a small advantage (Kasparov-van Wely, Blitz, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
• If [font color="blue"]7.Nf3 e6[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]8.a3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Qe2 Bd6 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3[/font] gives White the Bishop pair and a fair advantage in space (Sastre Vázquez-Ramos Domínguez, Spanish ChU16, Formigal, 2002).
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.Ne4 Qd8 9.c3 Nbd7 10.0-0 Be7 11.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (S. Geller-García Ruíz, Argentine ChU14, Tandil, 2003).
• [font color="#008000"]7.Nge2 Nbd7 8.f3 Bh5[/font] transposes into the notes to Black's eighth move after either 9.Ne4 or 9.Nf4 followed by 9...e6.

7...Bh5 8.Nge2 Nbd7

• If [font color="red"]8...e6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]9.Nf4 Bg6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.0-0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Calzetta Ruiz-White, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).
• [font color="darkred"]9.Ne4 Qb6 10.c3 Nbd7 11.Qc2 Be7 12.0-0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (K. Lie-Gausel, IT, Guasdal, 1999).

9.Nf4 Bg6 (N)

• [font color="red"]9...Qc7 10.Nxh5 Nxh5 11.g3 e6 12.Qe2 Be7 13.0-0-0[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Miklos, SX, Frankfurt, 2000).

10.Nxg6!?

• Black's novelty is a good one, but White's reply isn't the best as it opens the h-file for Black's Rook.
• Better is [font color="red"]10.Qe2! Qc7 11.Bxg6 hxg6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.d5[/font] giving White a fair advantage in space.

10...hxg6!

• Of course. White has a small advantage in space.

11.Qe2

• White has a small advantage in space.

11...e6

• Black must weaken his grip on the dark squares in order to free his Bishop.
• If [font color="red"]11...Qc7 12.0-0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...0-0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.fxe4 e5 15.Rdf1 f6 16.c3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]13.g3 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Be4 Rde8[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]12...Rxh2 13.Rxh2 Qxh2 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.fxe4 e5 16.Bc4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Leinier Domínguez Pérez[/center][center]Position after 11...e7e6[/center]

12.Ne4!

• White strikes at d6 and discovers an attack on the Queen.
[12.0-0-0?! 0-0-0 13.Kb1 Qb6 14.Be4 Qxd4 15.Be3 Qe5[/font] is equal

!
12...Bb4?!

• Black may be trying to provokle a weakness in White's queenside.
• [font color="red"]12...Qb6 13.c3 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 0-0-0 15.Bf4 Be7[/font] is equal.

13.c3!

• Unfortunately for Black, White has this resource by which he both gains a tempo and portect the d-pawn.
• White has a fair advantage in space.

13...Be7 14.g3 Nxe4?!

• White gets a pawn center; Black is counting on being able to undermine it.
• [font color="red"]14...0-0 15.Kf2 Rfe8 16.Nxf6+ Nxf6 17.Kg2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Leinier Domínguez Pérez[/center][center]Position after 14...Nf6e4:N[/center]

15.fxe4!

• The resurgence of White's pawn center gives him a fair advantage in space; Black will try to undermine it by attacking e4 or, if that isn't possible, d4.

15...Bg5 16.0-0!?

• White's most important asset is the pawn at e4. This doesn't protect it.
[16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.0-0[/font] (making the move ...f7f5 more difficult) then:
• If [font color="red"]17...Nf6 18.e5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]18...Nd5 19.Rae1 Qe7 20.Rf2 0-0-0 21.Ref1 Rhf8 22.a4[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]18...Ng4 19.h4 Qe3+ 20.Qxe3 Nxe3 21.Rf3 Nf5 22.Raf1[/font] gives White a comfortable game; Black's kingside is cramped.
• [font color="darkred"]17...Rd8 18.e5 Nb6 19.Rae1 Nd5 20.Rf2 Ne7 21.Be4[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

16...Bxd2!

• Black draws the White Queen from the defense of the e-pawn.

17.Qxd2 c5!

• Even with the Queen diverted from the e-file, White's e-pawn is unassailable.
• If [font color="red"]17...f5?[/font] loses to [font color="red"]18.exf5! gxf5 19.Qe2 0-0-0 20.Qxe6.[/font]

18.Qf2

• [font color="red"]18.Rad1 0-0[/font] (Black must protect the f-pawn.) [font color="red"]19.d5 Ne5 20.c4 Qxa2 21.Qc3 Nxd3 22.Rxd3[/font] is equal.

18...0-0 19.e5!?

• White releases the tension in the center and makes d5 available to Black.
• If [font color="red"]19.a3 Rac8 20.b4 Qd8 21.Rac1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21...cxd4 22.cxd4 Nf6 23.e5 Ng4 24.Rxc8 Qxc8 25.Qf4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]21...Ne5! 22.Be2 cxd4 23.cxd4 Nc6 24.Rcd1 a6 25.Bg4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Leinier Domínguez Pérez[/center][center]Position after 19.e5e5[/center]

19...Rad8!?

• This is the time to weaken White's center.
• If [font color="red"]19...cxd4![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20.cxd4 Qd5 21.Rac1 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Qxd3 23.Rc7 Rac8[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]20.Qxd4?! Rad8! 21.Qe3 Nxe5 22.Be2 f6 23.Rf4 Rd5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.

20.Be4!

• White has a slight advantage in space.

20...cxd4 21.cxd4 Nb8!?

• No matter where Black puts the Knight, the pawn is hanging. However, at b8 the Bishop restrains the Knight and if the Knioght goes to b6 he has a future in this game.
• If [font color="red"]21...Nb6 22.Bxb7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22...Qb4! 23.Rac1 Qxd4 24.Rc5 Na4 25.Rb5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]22...Qb5!? 23.Bg2 Na4 24.Rab1 Rd7 25.Rbd1[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage.
• If [font color="blue"]21...Qb6 22.Rac1 Nb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]23.Rc4 Nc6 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Rfc1[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]25...Rd5 26.Rxc6 Qxd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• [font color="dodgerblue"]25...Rd7 26.Rc5 Rd5 27.b3 Rfd8 28.Rxd5 Rxd5 29.Rc4[/font] gives White a slignt advantage.
• [font color="darkblue"]23.Rfd1 Nc6 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Rc4[/font] is equal.

22.Rad1!?

• The Queen is covering the d-pawn. Black should take advantage of the weakness while it's still a target.
• If [font color="red"]22.Bxb7 Qb6 23.Bg2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23...Qxd4 24.Qxd4 Rxd4 25.Rad1 Rfd8 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Rc1[/font] gives White nothing more than a slight advantage.
• [font color="darkred"]23...Rxd4!?[/font] moves into a pin and after [font color="darkred"]24.Rad1! Rfd8 25.Qxf7+ Kh7 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Qf2[/font] White has an extra pawn.

22...Nc6!

• The game is again equal.

23.Rd3!?

• White opens the door wide enough for Black to take a small advantage.
• If [font color="red"]23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.b3 Qb4 25.Rc1 Rxd4 26.a3 Qb6 27.b4[/font] remains equal.

23...Qb6!?

• The game remains equal.
• If [font color="red"]23...Qxa2! 24.Ra3 Qc4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25.Bxc6 25...bxc6 26.Rxa7 Qxd4 27.Qxd4 Rxd4 28.Rc1 Rb8[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn for the moment. If now 29.Rxc6 then after 29...Rxc2! one of White's Rooks must return to the back rank.
• [font color="darkred"]25.b3 Qb4 26.Ra4 Qb6 27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Rfa1 Qxb3[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Leinier Domínguez Pérez[/center][center]Position after 23...Qa5b6[/center]

24.Rfd1!

• The game is level.

24...Rd7 25.Rb3 Qa6 26.Ra3 Qb5

• If [font color="red"]26...Qc4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Ra5 Qb4 29.Qd2 Rxd4 30.Qxb4 Rxb4[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]27.Rc3[/font] then Black is slightly better after [font color="darkred"]27...Qxa2 28.Rdc1 Qa6 29.Bxc6 bxc6 30.Rxc6 Qd3.[/font]

27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Rf1 f5 29.b3?!

• Black limits the mobility of the Rook at a3.
• If [font color="red"]29.Rc1 Rfd8 30.Rb3 Qa4 31.Ra3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31...Qb4 32.Rb3 Qe7 33.Qf3[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]31...Qxd4!? 32.Qxd4! Rxd4 33.Rxc6 Rd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]34.Rxe6 Rxb2 35.Rd6 Rc8 36.Rd1 Rcc2 37.h4 Rg2+[/font] is equal.
• [font color="magenta"]34.Rd6 R8xd6 35.exd6 Rxd6 36.Rxa7 Rd1+ 37.Kg2 Rd2+[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Leinier Domínguez Pérez[/center][center]Position after 29.b2b3[/center]

29...Rfd8!

• Black puts pressure on White's center.

30.Ra4?

• White tries to cover his d-pawn and liberate his Rook at the same time. The idea is right, but the3 mechanics aren't there.
• If [font color="red"]30.Rd1 Qb6 31.d5 Qb5 32.d6 Qxe5[/font] gives Black two extra pawns (the pawn at d6 is dead wood), but there is no immediate win and White can try to get some counterplay against Black's weak pawns.

30...c5!

• The time is right to pry open the center.

31.dxc5

• If [font color="red"]31.Rd1 Qb6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]32.h4 Rxd4 33.Raxd4 cxd4 34.Qf4 d3+ gives Black an extra pawn, that being a passed pawn running up the d-file.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]32.Qe2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]32...Rxd4 33.Raxd4 Rxd4 34.Rxd4 cxd4.[/font]
• [font color="magenta"]32.Rd2 Rxd4 33.Raxd4 cxd4 34.h4 Qc5 35.Qf4 d3+[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more activity.

31...Rd2!

• The Queen must abandon the defense of the c-pawn. The end is near.

32.Qf3 Qxc5+ 33.Kh1 Qc2 34.Rc4 Qxa2

• Even stronger is [font color="red"]34...Rxh2+! 35.Kg1 Qxa2 36.Rh4 Rxh4 37.gxh4 Rd4.[/font]

35.Rh4 g5 36.Rh5

• If [font color="red"]36.Ra4[/font] then Black wins easily after [font color="red"]36...Rxh2+ 37.Kg1 Qb2 38.Qc6 Kh7.[/font]

36...g4 37.Qc6 Qxb3 38.Rg5 Rd1 0-1

• El señor Domínguez resigns.