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[Jack Rabbit]

13. Zhao Jun - Bu Xiangzhi, Round 2

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Bu Xiangzhi
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Frank Bettany (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Frank_Bettany) in Wikimdedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bu_Xiangzhi) (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
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Zhao Jun - Bu Xiangzhi
3rd Masters' Tournament, Round 2
Danzhou, 30 May 2012

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening (New York Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4

• Our name for this sortie is the Minerva Opening, named after the Roman war goddess. Other names for it are the Chekhover Opening, after a Soviet player contemporary with Botvinnik, and the Hungarian Opening.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening[/center][center]Position after 4.Qd1d4:p[/center]

4...a6

• We have dubbed the text the New York Variation. Actually, it was first played in an international tournament in Rio de Janeiro in 1952, but Black's first victory in master play from this position was scored by Larry Evans in the US Championship, held in New York City in those days, in 1954
• [font color="red"](Main Line[/font] or [font color="red"]Royal Variation)[/font] If [font color="red"]4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Nd4 Rfd8 13.Kb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13...a6 14.f3 b5 15.g4 Rac8 16.Nce2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...Ba8 17.Ng3 b4 18.Rg1 h6 19.Be3 e5 20.Ndf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (S. Zhigalko-Durarbeyli, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]16...Bd7 17.Ng3 g6 18.Rg1 e5 19.Ndf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 d5 21.h4[/font] is equal (Vasiukov-Browne, Op, Reykjavik, 1980).
• [font color="darkpink"]13...Rab8 14.f3 b5 15.g4 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.h4 a4 18.Rc1 Be8 19.Ng3 Qa7[/font] is equal (Haznedarolu-O'Connell, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Kb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qa5 12.Qd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Qa6 13.Nd4 Rfc8 14.f3 Be8 15.g4 Rc4 16.Be3 Rac8 17.h4[/font] is equal (Tereladze-Gaponenko, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...Kh8 13.Nd4 Rfd8 14.f4 Rac8 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Qf2 b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17.Rd3?![/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]17...b4 18.Rh3 bxc3 19.Qh4 cxb2[/font] Black soon won (Chuprov-Jakovenko, Russian Ch, Kazan, 2005).
• [font color="purple"]17.e5 Ng4 18.Qe2 Bxg5 19.Qxg4 Be7[/font] gives Black Bishops over Knights.
• [font color="magenta"]11...Qc7 12.Qd2 Rfd8 13.Nd4[/font] transposes to [font color="darkpink"]Hazendarolu-O'Connell,[/font] above.
• If [font color="darkred"]9.0-0 Be7 10.Rad1 0-0 11.Rfe1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11...Qa5 12.Bh4 Rfd8 13.Qd3 Qh5 14.Bg3 Qc5 15.Bh4 b6 16.Nd4 Bb7[/font] is equal (Toufighi-Paragua, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Qc7[/font] then:
• After [font color="magenta"]12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Qe3 Rfe8 14.Qh6 Kh8 15.Qh5 Bf8 16.Nd4 Qe7 17.Re3[/font] White builds a kingside attack (Rogers-T. Ernst, IT, Berlin, 1986).
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.h3 Rfd8 13.Nh2 b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]14.Rd3?![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...a5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Rf3!? b4![/font] Black has a fair advantage in space (Geller-Kogan, Trmt, Odessa, 1946).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.Ng4! e5 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qe3 Bxg5 18.Qxg5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.
• Black has a small advantage in space, but [font color="hotpink"]14...b4! 15.Nd1 a5 16.Rf3 e5[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage in space.
• [font color="purple"]14.Ng4 Nxg4 15.Bxe716.hxg4[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]7.c4 Nf6 8.Nc3 g6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.Qd3 0-0 11.Nd4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11...Qb6 12.Rd1 Ng4 13.Qd2 Qc5 14.h3 Nf6 15.Qe2 Rfc8 16.b3 Qe5 17.f3 Nh5 18.Be3 f5[/font] is equal (Ni Hua-Zhou Jianchao, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]11...Nd7 12.Be3 a5 13.b3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Ne6 15.Qd2 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Cabrilo-Atakisi, IT, Sarajevo, 2008).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening (Main Line)[/center][center]Position after 4...Nc6[/center]

• If [font color="blue"]4...Bd7 5.c4 Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]6.Qd2 g6 7.b3 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]8.Qa5 Nf6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]10...Qa5 11.Rb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11...a6 12.a3[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]12...Rfc8 13.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]13...Qd8[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]14.h3 Rab8 15.Rfd1 Na5 16.Ba1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Yilmaz-Solomon, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
• [font color="#40A0C0"]14.b4 Rab8 15.Rfd1 Bg4 16.Qe3 Bxf3 17.gxf3[/font] is equal (Salman-Jelica, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• [font color="#8040C0"]13...Rab8?! 14.h3! Be6 15.b4 Qd8 16.Qe3 Nd7 17.Nd5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Vasiukov-Pribyl, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1972).
• If [font color="darkblue"]12...Bg4 13.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]13...Nd7 14.b4 Qd8 15.Nd5 Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Rc8 17.Rc1[/font] is equal (Priyadharshan-Narayanan, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Qh5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qh4 16.Rfe1 Nd7 17.Nd5[/font] is equal (Smejkal-U. Andersson, ZT, Raach, 1969).
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...Rfc8 12.0-0 a6 13.Rfd1 Bg4 14.Qe3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]14...Nd7?! 15.Nd5! Bxb2 16.Rxb2 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 e6 18.Nc3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Anand-Kasparov, Rpd KO, Moscow, 1995).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nd7 16.f4 Rd8 17.Bg4 Nf6 18.Bh3[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Bg4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11.0-0 Qa5 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3[/font] is equal (V. Hansen-Carlsen, Norwegian ChT, Oslo, 2002).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nd7 13.0-0 Qa5 14.Rab1[/font] is equal (J. Polgar-Topalov, IT, Dos Hermanas, Spain, 1996).
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.Bb2 Bxb2 9.Qxb2 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.Nc3 Qa5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11.Bd3 Bg4 12.Nd2 0-0 13.0-0 Qg5 14.Kh1 Qe5[/font] is equal (Jussupow-Morrison, World Youth BU20, Innsbruk, Austria, 1977).
• [font color="darkcyan"]11.Qd2 Bg4 12.Be2 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Qe5 14.Rd1 g5[/font] is equal (Golod-Berkovich, IT, Ufa, Russia, 1993).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Be2 Nh5 12.0-0 Nf4 13.Rfe1 e5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Bannik-Spassky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1957).
• If [font color="darkblue"]6.Qd1 Nf6 7.Nc3 g6 8.Be2 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Rc8 11.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...a6 12.Rc1 Re8 13.Re1 Be6 14.Ng5 [/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Zvjaginsev-Naiditsch, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• [font color="darkcyan"]11...Na5 12.Nd2 Be6 13.Nd5 b6 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.b3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fongers-Ulms, Bundesliga 9899W, Germany, 1999).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...a6 11.Be3 Rb8 12.Nd2 Ne8 13.Nb3 b6 14.Qd2 Nc7 15.Rad1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Panchenko-Chiburdanidze, Soviet Ch FL, Tashkent, 1980).

5.Be3

• If [font color="red"]5.c4 Nc6 6.Qd2 g6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7.b3 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10...Bg4 11.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Qa5 12.Rfd1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12...Nd7 13.Nd5 Qxd2 14.Rxd2 Nc5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Redolfi-Najdorf, Buenos Aires Ch, 1955).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Rfc8 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.a4[/font] is equal (Sarakauskas-C. Balogh, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Rb8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.Rab1 Nd7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3[/font] is equal (Kagramanov-Khurtsidze, OlW, Bled, 2002).
• [font color="magenta"]12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 b5 14.cxb5 axb5[/font] is equal (Minev-Nicevski, IT, Albena, 1973).
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Qa5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nd5 Qxd2+ 12.Nxd2 Nxd5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.cxd5 Nd4 15.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Bd7 16.Rc7 Bb5 17.Bc4 Bxc4 18.Rxc4 Rac8[/font] is equal (Ponomariov-Aronian, World Youth BU12, Szeged, 1994).
• [font color="burgundy"]15...e6 16.Nc4 exd5 17.exd5 Re8 18.Ne3 Bf5 19.Rc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (J. Polgar-Komljenovic, Rpd Op, Oviedo, Spain, 1993).
• [font color="darkpink"]14.exd5 Nd4 15.Rc1 Nxe2 16.Kxe2 Bd7 17.Rhe1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Kovacevic-Antic, IT, Cyberspace, 2003).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Rb1 Bg4 12.0-0 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13.Rfe1 Rfc8 14.a3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd4[/font] is equal (Stancic-Mladenovic, TT, Belgrade, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.a3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nd4 15.Bd1 Rac8 16.b4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and a slight initiative (Kuzevanova-Bazeev, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009).
• If [font color="darkred"]8.Bb2 Bxb2 9.Qxb2 Nf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]10.Be2 Bg4 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nc3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd4[/font] gives Black the initiative and a slight edge in space (Seifert-Wojtkiewicz, Polish Ch, Czestochowa, 1992).
• [font color="magenta"]10.Nc3 Bg4 11.Be2 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nd4 13.Be2 0-0[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Bachmann Schiavo-Predojevic, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If [font color="darkred"]7.Nc3 Bh6 8.Qc2 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Be3 Nf6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]10.h3 Qa5 11.Nd2 0-0 12.Be2 Be6 13.0-0[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Braga-Huzman, Op, Benasque, Spain, 1993).
• [font color="burgundy"]10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Bg4 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.b3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov, Blitz, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.h3 Nf6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]11...Be6 12.Rd1 Qa5 13.Nd5 Rfc8 14.Bd2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Radulov-Browne, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).
• [font color="darkorange"]11...Nd7 12.Be3 Nc5 13.Rad1 Bd7 14.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Batista-Leitão, Brazilian Ch, Itabirito, 1998).
• If [font color="blue"]5.Bg5 Nc6 6.Qd2 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]7.Bd3 e6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]8.c4!? h6![/font] (the game is equal) [font color="blue"]9.Bf4 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]12...Bg4?! 13.cxd5![/font] (White has a fair advantage in space) then:
• If [font color="blue"]13...Bxf3?! 14.dxc6![/font] (White has a passed pawn and a powerful initiative) [font color="blue"]14...Bxc6 15.Rad1 0-0 16.Bxh6!![/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]16...gxh6? 17.Qxh6![/font] gives White a winning game although he has only two pawns for a Bishop; Black resigned after another nine moves (Kamsky-Lautier, IT, Dortmund, 1993).
• [font color="steelblue"]16...Qa5 17.Qg5 Qxg5 18.Bxg5 Rfe8 19.Rfe1 Kf8 20.Bc2[/font] continues to gives Black an extra pawn, power in the center and more space.
• [font color="slateblue"]13...Nxd5 14.Be4 Bxf3 15.Bxd5 Bxd5 16.Nxd5 0-0 17.Bc7[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qxd2 14.Nxd2 0-0[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="dodgerblue"]8.Nc3 Be7 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 Qc7 11.a4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• If [font color="darkblue"]7.Nc3 e6 8.0-0-0 Be7 9.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]9...Ng4 10.h3 Nge5 11.Nxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...dxe5 12.Qxd8+ Bxd8 13.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]13...b5 14.a4 b4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]15.Na2 Be7 16.Kb1 f6 17.Nc1 Kf7 18.Nb3[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Gashimov-Polzin, ).
• [font color="steelblue"]15.Nb1 Bb7 16.Nd2 Be7 17.Nb3 Rd8 18.Bc4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kallai-van Mil, World ChT, Graz, 1981).
• [font color="slateblue"]13...Rb8 14.Na4 b5 15.Nc5 Bb6 16.c3 Ke7 17.b4[/font] gives White command of the d-file and a comfortable advantage in space (Yu Ruiyuan-Narayanan, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012).
• [font color="darkcyan"]11...Nxe5 12.Nb5 axb5 13.Bxe5 Bd7 14.Bxd6 Rxa2 15.Kb1[/font] is equal (Yu Ruiyuan-So, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...e5 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Bxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Bxf6 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nd4 14.Qe3 0-0 15.Bd3[/font] is equal (Moussard-Gähwiler, World Youth BU14, Vang Tau, Vietnam, 2008).
• [font color="darkcyan"]11...gxf6 12.Nd5 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Nxe7 Qxe7 15.Qxd6[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Millet-Benmesbah, French ChT, Belfort, 2012).

5...Nc6 6.Qd2

• If [font color="red"]6.Qb6 Qxb6 7.Bxb6 Nf6 8.Nc3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]8...Bg4 9.Be2 Rc8 10.0-0-0 g6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11.Be3 Bg7 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd7 14.Nd5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (de Sousa-Maze, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Bg7 13.Nd5 Nd7 14.Be3[/font] gives White a slight edge (Marinkovic-Sedlak, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]12...Bh6+ 13.Kb1 Nd7 14.Na4 Nce5 15.Be2 Nxb6 16.Nxb6 Rc6[/font] is equal (J. Polgar-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...g6 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Nb8 11.Bd4 Rg8 12.Bd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Nd7 13.0-0-0 Bg7 14.Rhe1 Nf6 15.Bc4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Feliciano-Schöne, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...Bg4 13.Nd2 Nd7 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Rfe1 Bf5 16.Bxf5[/font] gives White a very slight advantage (Voitsekhovsky-Babaev, Lasker Mem Op, Barlinek, Czechia, 2001).
• [font color="magenta"]10...Nb4 11.0-0-0 Bf5?! 12.c3 Rc8 13.a3 Bh6+ 14.Be3 Bxe3+ 15.fxe3[/font] gives White a very comfortable game (Gashimov-Navara, World Youth BU12, Cannes, 1997).

6...Bg4 ?! 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nd4 (N)

• [font color="red"]8.0-0-0 Nf6 9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe1 Qa5 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nd2[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Brkic-Gashimov, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2009).

8...Nxd4

• White has more freedom. Black's Bishop is poorly placed on g4.

9.Qxd4 Ne7 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6

• Driving back the Bishop was easily forseen after White's novelty, which deserves more praise than a novelty in a losing effort usually gets.

12.f4 Nc6 13.Qd2!?

• This gives White time to play ...h7h6 and save his Bishop before White can play f4f5!.
• Better is [font color="red"]13.Qc4! Na5 14.Qb4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14...b5 15.f5! Nc6 16.Qb3 Na5 17.Bxb5+ axb5 18.Qxb5+[/font] gives White three pawns for a piece.
• [font color="darkred"]14...h6?[/font] now proves too late after [font color="darkred"]15.0-0-0[/font] when:
• [font color="darkred"]15...Bh7 16.Rh2 Qc7 17.Bb6 Nc6 18.Bxc7 Nxb4 19.Rhd2[/font] gives White a whale-sized advantage in space.
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Be7 16.f5! Bh7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17.Bc5 Qc7 18.Bxd6 Nc6 19.Qc4 Bxd6 20.fxe6[/font] leaves White two pawns to the good.
• If [font color="darkorange"]17.fxe6[/font] then White still wins after [font color="darkorange"]17...fxe6 18.Bc5! Rc8 19.Bxd6 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Qg5+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 13.Qd4d2[/center]

13...h6!

• The Bishop will have a place to go if attacked, but it's still not pretty.

14.0-0-0

• [font color="red"]14.f5 Ne5 15.0-0-0 Bh7 16.Be2 Qa5 17.Qd4[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space.

14...Be7 15.Kb1!?

• White should take advantage of his spatial superiority while its his.
• [font color="red"]15.f5 Bh7 16.h4 b5 17.Kb1 Qa5 18.Qg2[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage, especially on the kingside.

15...Rc8?!

• White has a huge advantage in space and the threat of 16.f5!. This move addresses neither problem.
• If [font color="red"]15...b5 16.f5 Bh7 17.a3 Rb8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]18.Be2 0-0 19.h4 b4 20.axb4 Rxb4 21.g5[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]18.fxe6?! fxe6! 19.Bg2 Ne5 20.Ne2 Nc4 21.Qc3[/font] is equal.

16.f5!

• Well, of course. Black Bishop will sit passively for a spell.

16...Bh7 17.Bc4 Ne5

• If [font color="red"]17...Na5 18.Be2 0-0 19.h4 Bxh4 20.Bxh6!![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20...b5 21.Bf4 b4 22.Na4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.
• If [font color="darkred"]20...gxh6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]21.Qxh6 Qg5 22.Qxh4 Qxh4 23.Rxh4.[/font]

18.Bb3 Nc4 19.Bxc4?!

• White assists Black in getting his Rook into play.
• Better is [font color="red"]19.Qe2 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qd7 21.h4 Bg8 22.e5[/font] when White still has a lot more space more space; Black is caught in a vise.

19...Rxc4!

• White's advantage in spacehas been whittled down.

20.b3

• If [font color="red"]20.Qd3!? b5![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.h4 Qc7 22.g5 d5 23.exd5 Bxf5 24.d6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space
• [font color="darkred"]21.Rhf1?! Qc7 22.a3 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]23.Bf4 Rd8 24.Qg3 b4 25.axb4 Rxb4 26.Rd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space
• [font color="magenta"]23.Bd4 Qb7 24.f6 gxf6 25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Rxf6[/font] gives White a slim edge in space.

20...Rc6?!

• The Rook should retreat all the way back to c8, where it is less vulnerable than in the text.
• If [font color="red"]20...Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.Ne2 0-0 22.Nf4 Qc7 23.Nh5 Qc6 24.Rhe1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space, generally concentrated on the kingside.
• [font color="darkred"]21.fxe6?! fxe6 22.Rhf1 Qa5 23.Kb2 b5 24.Qd4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 20...Rc4c6[/center]

21.Ne2!

• White has a comfortable advantage in space. The Knight threatens to come to d4.

21...0-0 22.Rhg1?!

• This move figures in a winning plan, but White should open the g-file first.
• If [font color="red"]22.Nd4! Rc8 23.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23...e5 24.Ne2 Qc7 25.Ng3 Qc3 26.Qf2 Rfd8 27.Rd5[/font] gives White a huge advantage that is on the brink of winning.
• If [font color="darkred"]23...exf5 24.exf5 Bf6 25.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]25...h5 26.gxh5 Qc7 27.c3 Rfe8 28.h6 Qe7 29.Rhe1[/font] continues to give White a substantial advantage in space.
• If [font color="magenta"]25...Qd7? 26.g5 Bxd4 27.Bxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]27...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]28.g6 fxg6 29.fxg6 Bxg6 30.Rhg1 Qe8 31.Rxg6.[/font]
• If [font color="darkorange"]27...hxg5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Qxg5+ Bg6 30.Rhg1.[/font]

22...Bf6

• Black takes command of the long diagonal. White still has a fair advantage.
• If [font color="red"]22...Rc8 23.Ng3 Qc7 24.Nh5 Qc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25.Rde1 Kh8 26.g5 hxg5 27.Bxg5 f6[/font] contionues to give White a fair advantage.
• [font color="darkred"]25.g5?! Qxe4! 26.Ng3 Qe5 27.gxh6 Bf6 28.Bd4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

23.Nd4 Rc8 24.Nf3 d5 25.g5

• White has a fair advantage in space and power in the center,
• If [font color="red"]25.Qf2![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25...Qa5 26.g5 hxg5 27.Nxg5 dxe4 28.Nxh7 Kxh7 29.Bg5[/font] gives White a power advantage on the kingside.
• If [font color="darkred"]25...Qc7?! 26.g5! hxg5 27.Nxg5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27...dxe4 28.Nxe4 Qe5 29.Bd4 Qxe4 30.Bxf6[/font] gives White a strong kingside attack.
• [font color="magenta"]27...Qc6 28.Nxh7 Kxh7 29.exd5 exd5 30.Bd4[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

25...hxg5 26.Nxg5 dxe4 27.Qg2 Qa5?!

• Aiming the Queen at the h6 square is a good, but this is the wroong way to carry it out.
• If [font color="red"]27...Qe7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]28.fxe6 Bxg5 29.Bxg5 Qxe6 30.Be7[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage.
• [font color="darkred"]28.Nxh7?! Kxh7! 29.Qxe4 exf5! 30.Qxf5+ g6[/font] is equal.

28.Bd4?!

• White throws away his advantage altogether.
• [font color="red"]28.Nxh7! Kxh7 29.fxe6 Qf5 30.e7 Rg8 31.Rgf1[/font] gives White a pawn knocking at the palace gate and a strong kingside initiative.

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 28.Be3d4[/center]

28...Bxd4!

• The game is equal.

29.Rxd4 Bxf5 30.Nxe6 g6 31.Nxf8 e3!?

• The pawn advance is a waste of time in this position.
• Better is [font color="red"]31...Kxf8! 32.Rxe4 Bxe4 33.Qxe4 Qc3 34.h4[/font] when the game remains equal.

32.Rc1!?

• The game remains level.
• [font color="red"]32.Nxg6! Rxc2 33.Ne7+ Kf8 34.Qg8+ Kxe7 35.Qg5+[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

32...Kxf8 33.Qe2??

• White allows Black to take over the center.
• If [font color="red"]33.Qd5! Rc5 34.Qd6+ Kg7 35.b4 Rb5 36.Kb2 Qa4[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 33.Qg2e2[/center]

33...Qe5!

• Black is a piece to the good.

34.Rdd1

• If [font color="red"]34.Rd2 Qc5 35.Rdd1 Qc3 36.Rd5 Be4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]37.Rd3 Bxd3 38.Qxd3 Qxd3 39.cxd3 Rxc1+ 40.Kxc1 f5[/font] is an easy win for Black.
• If [font color="darkred"]37.Rdd1 a5 38.Qh2 a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]39.Qd6+ Kg8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]40.Rd3 40...Bxd3 41.Qxd3 Qxd3 42.cxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]42...Rxc1+ 43.Kxc1 axb3 44.axb3 f5 45.Kd1 f4 46.Ke2[/font] leaves winning for Black just a matter of technique.
• Black also wins after [font color="purple"]42...Re8 43.bxa4 e2 44.Re1 f5 45.Kc1 f4.[/font]
• [font color="darkorange"]40.Qd4 Bxc2+ 41.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 42.Ka1 e2 43.Rg1 a3[/font] leaves White no way to avert mate.
• If [font color="magenta"]39.bxa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]39...Rc4 40.Qd6+ Kg7 41.a3 Bxc2+!.[/font]

34...a5 35.Re1

• If [font color="red"]35.Rf1[/font] then after [font color="red"]35...b5 36.Qe1 e2 37.Rf2 Re8 38.Rf3 b4[/font] White is crushe under the weight of Black's advanced pawns.

35...Rc3

• If [font color="red"]35...Qc3!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]36.Qxe3 Bxc2+ 37.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 38.Ka1 Qf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]39.Re2 b5 40.Kb2 Kg8 41.Rf2 Qd5 42.h4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a safer King.
• If [font color="darkred"]39.a4? Kg8 40.Re2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]40...b5 41.Rf2 Qd7 42.axb5 a4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]43.b4 Qxb5 44.Qd4 Qe8 45.Qb2 Qe3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, a safer King and greater piece activity.
• If [font color="darkorange"]43.bxa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]43...Qd1+ 44.Kb2 Qxa4 45.Qf3 Qxb5+.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]40...Rd8[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]41.Kb2 Rd3 42.Qe8+ Kh7 43.Qb5 Qf3.[/font]
• [font color="darkorchid"]36.h4!? a4 37.Qxe3 Bxc2+ 38.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 39.Ka1 a3.[/font]

36.Qd1 a4 37.Qd8+

• If [font color="red"]37.bxa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]37...Rc6 38.Qd8+ Kg7 39.Rf1 e2 40.Rfe1 Qc3.[/font]

37...Kg7 38.bxa4

[center]BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Xhao Jun[/center][center]Position after 38.ba4:p[/center]

38...Rc4!?

• Black win quicker after [font color="red"]38...Qc5 39.Red1 Qb4+ 40.Ka1 Rxc2 41.Rxc2 Bxc2.[/font]

39.Qb6 Qc3 40.a3 Bxc2+ 41.Ka2 Qd2 42.Qb2+ Kg8

• If [font color="red"]42...Kh7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]43.Rxe3[/font] then Black's kingside pawn decide the game after [font color="red"]43...Qxe3 44.Rxc2 Rxc2 45.Qxc2 Qxh3.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]43.Re2 Qxe2 44.h4 Bb3+!! 45.Kxb3 Qd3+ 46.Qc3 Rxc3+ 47.Rxc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]47...Qd1+ 48.Kb2 Qxa4 49.Rxe3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]49...Qxh4 50.Kc3 g5[/font] there is nothing left to stop the g-pawn, unless the cares to give itself up.
• If [font color="darkrorange"]49...Qd4+[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]50.Rc3 Qxh4.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]47...e2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]48.Rxd3 e1Q.[/font]

43.h4

• [font color="red"]43.Rxe3 Qxe3 44.Rxc2 Rxc2 45.Qxc2 Qxh3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and two connected passers.

43...e2! 44.Rg1

• If [font color="red"]44.h5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]44...Rc3 45.Ka1 Qd3 46.Ka2 g5 47.h6 Kh7.[/font]

44...Rc3 45.Rge1 0-1

• [font color="red"]45...Bb3+[/font] precipatates a string of forced moves when:
• If [font color="red"]46.Ka1 Rxc1+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]47.Rxc1 e1Q[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]48.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 49.Qb1 Qxb1+ 50.Kxb1 Bxa4[/font] leaves Black nothing at all.
• If [font color="darkorange"]48.Qxd2 Qxd2 49.Rc8+ Kg7 50.Kb1 Ba2+ 51.Ka1 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]52.Kb1[/font] then [font color="darkorange"]52...Bxc8 53.a5 Bf5+ 54.Ka1 Qc2[/font] is followed by mate on the next move.
• If [font color="purple"]52.Rc4[/font] then Black gives mate soon after [font color="purple"]52...Bxc4 53.Kb1 Bb3.[/font]
• If [font color="magenta"]47.Qxc1[/font] then [font color="magenta"]47...Qa2#.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]46.Kb1[/font] then [font color="darkred"]46...Rxc1+ 47.Rxc1 e1Q etc.[/font] is the same idea
• Zhao Xiansheng resigns without waithing for Bu Xiansheng to reply.