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[Jack Rabbit]

19. Hansen - Mikhalevski, Round 7

Eric Hansen, 20, is a promising international master from Calgary. He won the 49th annual Candian Open with a score of 7½ out of 9. In round 7, he defeated veteran Israeli GM Viktor Mikhalevski, who had been leading up to that point.

He is a freshman on a chess scholarship at the University of Texas at Dallas.

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[center]There is no photo of Eric Hansen available with an internet-friendly copyright[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)
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Eric Hansen - Viktor Mikhalevski
49th Canadian International Open, Round 7
Victoria, British Columbia, 11 July 2012

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

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qb3 Nb6 6.d4 Bg7 7.Bg5

• If [font color="red"]7.Bf4 Be6 8.Qa3 0-0 9.e3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...N8d7 10.Rd1 a5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11.Ng5 Bd5 12.e4 Bc4 13.h4 Bxf1 14.Kxf1 Nf6 15.Qc5[/font] gives White the advantage in space.(Ivanchuk-Vachier Lagrave, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• [font color="burgundy"]11.d5 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Bxd5 13.c4 Bxf3 14.gxf3 e6 15.h4[/font] gives White the early advantage in space (Eljanov-Vachier Lagrave, Bundesliga 0809, Emsdetten, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Be2 a5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.0-0 Nb4 12.Rfc1 c6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Be5 Bh6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Ne4 Nd7 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.Rxc5 Nd5 17.Bc4 Qb6[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage, but Black's Queen makes it difficult for White to get on with any plans that involve the White Queen (Kramnik-Nakamura, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2011).
• [font color="hotpink"]14.Na4 Nxa4 15.Qxa4 Nd5 16.Qd1 Nb6 17.Bg3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Naumann-P. Popovic, Bundesliga 0809, Wattenscheid, 2008).
• [font color="purple"]13.Ne4 Bf5 14.Nc5 Ra7 15.Qb3 Qd5 16.Qd1[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Gupta, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]11.Qc5 a4 12.Nb5 Ra5 13.Qc1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Bg4 15.Qc4 Be6[/font] is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• [font color="magenta"]10.Bb5 Nd5 11.Bg3 Ncb4 12.Rc1 c5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.0-0[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Jakovenko-Vachier Lagrave, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

7...Be6

• If [font color="red"]7...0-0 8.Rd1 c6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.e3 Be6 10.Qc2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]10...a5 11.Be2 Na6 12.0-0 f5 13.Bf4 Nb4 14.Qb1[/font] gives White a slim advantage in space (Avrukh-Mamedyorov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• [font color="magenta"]10...N8d7 11.Be2 Nd5 12.0-0 h6 13.Bh4 Re8 14.Bg3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Furman-Ree, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1975).
• [font color="darkred"]9.e4 Bg4 10.Be2 N8d7 11.0-0 h6 12.Bh4[/font] gives White a comfortable game early (Gausel-Ledger, Op, Bergen, 2000).

8.Qc2 h6 9.Bh4 g5 (N)

• If [font color="red"]9...Nc6 10.Rd1 0-0 11.e3 Nb4 12.Qb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Bf5 13.e4 Bg4 14.d5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Qd7 16.a3 Na6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17.Bg3 c6 18.d6 Rfd8 19.Be2 e5[/font] gives Black stronger pawns; White's passer at d6 will consume much of Black's attention in the middle game (Pelletier-Sutovsky, IT, Pamplona, 2003).
• [font color="burgundy"]17.Qc2 Rfe8 18.Bg3 c6 19.d6 Nc5[/font] is equal ().
• If [font color="darkred"]14...f5 15.a3 g5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16.Bg3 f4 17.axb4 fxg3 18.hxg3 Rxf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.gxf3 Bxf3 20.Rh2 Bxd1 21.Qxd1[/font] is equal (Sanikidze-Gopal, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• [font color="darkorange"]19.Be2 Rxc3 20.Bxg4 Rb3 21.Be6+ Kh8 22.e5 Qe8[/font] is equal (Bauer-Svidler, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).
• [font color="magenta"]16.axb4!? gxh4 17.Be2 Qd6[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Pelletier -Mamedyarov, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...a5!? 13.Be2 c6 14.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...a4!? 15.Bg3 Qc8 16.Rc1 g5 17.a3 N4d5 18.h4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Gausel-Rogers, IT, Guasdal, 1996).
• [font color="magenta"]14...N4d5 15.h3 a4 16.Bg3 a3 17.e4 Nxc3 18.bxc3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

10.Bg3

• White has a small advantage in space.

10...g4

• If [font color="red"]10...Nc6 11.Rd1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11...Nb4 12.Qb1 0-0 13.e4 f5 14.d5 Bc8 15.a3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]11...Qd7!? 12.e4 Nb4 13.Qb1 Bg4 14.d5[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

11.Nd2 Nc6

• If [font color="red"]11...Na6 12.e3 Nb4 13.Qc1 c6 14.Be2 h5 15.Bh4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

12.e3 Nb4 13.Qd1 h5 14.a3

• If [font color="red"]14.Bh4 c5 15.dxc5 N6d5 16.Nb5 0-0 17.a3[/font] also continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 14.a2a3[/center]

14...N4d5!

• The game is equal.

15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bh4

• [font color="red"]16.e4 Nb6 17.d5 Bd7 18.Rc1 c6 19.Rc2 h4[/font] remains equal.

16...c5

• [font color="red"]16...Bf6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Qa4+ Qd7 19.Qxd7+ Kxd7[/font] remains equal.

17.e4 Nf4 18.d5

• If [font color="red"]18.Bg5 Qc7 19.Rc1 b6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20.Bb5+ Kf8 21.d5 Nxg2+ 22.Kf1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22...Nf4 23.Bxf4 Qxf4 24.dxe6 Bh6 25.Rc2 Rd8[/font] is equal after Black regains his piece.
• [font color="magenta"]22...Qe5 23.Bxe7+ Kxe7 24.Kxg2 Qxb2 25.Rb1 Qd4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]20.d5 Bd7 21.b4 Qe5 22.Bxf4 Qxf4[/font] remains equal.

18...Bd7 19.Qc2

• [font color="red"]19.d6 f6 20.f3 Be6 21.Qa4+ Bd7 22.Qb3 exd6[/font] remains equal.

19...Rc8 20.Nc4 Ng6 21.Bg5 Qc7 22.a4

• [font color="red"]22.0-0-0 Bd4 23.a4 Ne5 24.Kb1 Nxc4 25.Bxc4[/font] remains equal.

22...Bd4

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 22...Bg7d4[/center]

23.Qd2!?

• Given the choice between protecting a Bishop or a center pawn (which is less moble than a Bishop), it's better to protect the pawn.
• If [font color="red"]23.0-0-0 Ne5 24.Kb1 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 Qe5 26.Bd2 Rf8[/font] remains equal.
• While White's move was not objectively the best, it's probably exactly what he wanted to do.

23...Ne5!

• Black has a slight edge in space.

24.Bf4 h4

• Black's plan is take a local advantage in space on the kingside and deprive White from striking in the center.

25.Be2!?

• The best way to meet a attack on the flank is a counterstrike in the center.
• If [font color="red"]25.Qc1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25...Rg8 26.Ra3 f6 27.Be2 Kd8 28.a5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]25...f6 26.Ra3 Kf7 27.Be2 b6 28.Kd1 a6 29.h3[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="blue"]25.Bxe5 Bxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]26.Be2 f6 27.Qc2 Rg8 28.0-0-0 Bd4 29.Kb1 Kf8[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkblue"]26.Nxe5!? Qxe5![/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]27.f3 h3 28.Qc3 Qd4 29.Rd1 hxg2 30.Bxg2 Qxc3+[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
• [font color="dodgerblue"]27.Bd3?! c4 28.Bc2 c3 29.bxc3 h3 30.g3 Rxc3[/font] gives Black a clear advantage.

25...Nxc4!

• Black has a fair advantage.

26.Bxc4 Be5?!

• This weakens Black's control of the queenside.
• If [font color="red"]26...Qb6 27.Bb5 h3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]28.Rg1 a6 29.Bxd7+ Kxd7 30.a5 Qf6 31.Kf1 e5[/font] gives Black a comfortable game with an advanced kingside, an active Bishop and the initiative.
• If [font color="darkred"]28.gxh3?! Qf6![/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]29.d6 exd6 30.0-0-0 Bxb5 31.axb5 Rxh3 32.Bg3 Qe6[/font] pushes White against the wall.
• If [font color="magenta"]29.Ra2? Bxb5! 30.axb5 c4[/font] then:
• [font color="megenta"]31.Bg3 c3 32.Qc2 Qf3 33.Rf1 f5[/font] threatens to win White's Bishop on g3
• If [font color="darkorange"]31.Be3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]31...Bxe3 32.fxe3 Rxh3 33.Rf1 Qh6.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 26...Bd4e5[/center]

27.g3!

• The game is equal.
• [font color="red"]27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.Qe2 h3 29.g3 Rc7 30.a5 Rh6[/font] is also equal.

27...Qd6 28.b3?! Qf6?! 29.Bxe5

• If [font color="red"]29.0-0-0 hxg3 30.fxg3 Bxf4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31.gxf4 Qd4 32.Qxd4 cxd4 33.Kb2 Bxa4 34.Rxd4 Bd7[/font] gives White the advange with more advanced pawns.
• [font color="darkred"]31.Qxf4!? Qxf4+ 32.gxf4 Kd8 33.Rd2 Kc7 34.Rg1 f5[/font] is equal.

29...Qxe5 30.0-0 Kf8

• If [font color="red"]30...Qxe4 31.Rae1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]31...Qg6! 32.d6 e6 33.Re5 Rh5 34.Rxh5 Qxh5 35.Qf4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]31...Qf5!? 32.Qa5! Rh6 33.Qxa7 h3 34.d6 Rxd6 35.Qxb7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

31.Rad1

• [font color="red"]31.Bb5 Rd8 32.Rae1 Bxb5 33.axb5 Rd6[/font] is equal.

31...Kg7 32.Qf4 Rh5 33.d6 Qxf4 34.gxf4 Re8!?

• This moves isn't dreadful, but it isn't the best. Black should keep the d-file closed.
• If [font color="red"]34...exd6 35.Rxd6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]35...Bc6 36.h3 gxh3 37.f3 Kf8 38.Kh1 Ke7 39.Rfd1[/font] continues to give White a slender edge.
• [font color="darkred"]35...Rc7?! 36.f3! gxf3 37.Kf2 Bc6 38.Rg1+ Kf8 39.Kxf3[/font] gives White a comfortable game with more activity for his Rooks.

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 34...Rc8e8[/center]

35.dxe7!

• White opens the d-file for his Rook.
• If [font color="red"]35.f3! gxf3 36.Kf2 Bc6 37.e5 Rh6 38.Rg1+[/font] also gives White a small advantage in space.

35...Bc6?!

• Simplest and best is to take the pawn at the palace gate.
• [font color="red"]35...Rxe7 36.f3 gxf3 37.Kf2 Bh3 38.Rfe1 Bg2 39.e5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage with the most active Rook on the board.

36.Bb5!?

• White voluntarily disfigures his queenside pawns.
• If [font color="red"]36.f3! gxf3 37.Kf2 Rxe7 38.Rg1+ Kf8 39.e5[/font] gives White the better game in spite of being a pawn down/ He has command of the d-file and Black's queenside majority blockaded.

36...Bxb5!

• The game is again equal.

37.axb5 Rxe7 38.Rfe1 Rh6 39.Rd5 Rhe6 40.Rg5+ Kf8!?

• The King is a strong piece..Use it. -- Steinitz
• The King timidly hides on the back rank, but Black's prospects are better if his uses the monarch more aggressively.
• If [font color="red"]40...Kh6![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]41.e5 Rg6 42.Rf5 Rb6 43.Kg2 Rxb5 44.Re3 Rb4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkred"]41.Rxc5!? Rxe4! 42.Rxe4 Rxe4 43.Rc7 h3 44.Kf1 Rxf4[/font] gives Black a slight edge.

41.e5!

• White has a small advantage with the most active of all the Rooks.

41...f6

• [font color="red"]41...Rb6 42.Rxg4 Rxb5 43.Re3 c4 44.bxc4 Rc5 45.Rxh4[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn, but Black's active Rooks are up to the defense.

42.Rxg4 fxe5 43.Rxh4 exf4?!

• Black's Kingside pawns are weak.
• [font color="red"]43...e4! 44.Rh8+ Kg7 45.Rh5 Rf7 46.Rg5+ Kh6 47.Rg4[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn, but the pawn is weak and White must use his recources defending it.

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 43...ef4:p[/center]

44.Rxf4+!

• White still has an extra pawn and one less weakness to worry about.

44...Kg7 45.Rxe6 Rxe6 46.Rc4 Re1+?!

• This is the kind of check that do the position little good. White would not have time to bring his King forward if Black just played, but now the King is forced forward to a more active square.
• [font color="red"]46...b6! 47.Rg4+ Kf6 48.Kf1 Kf5 49.Rh4 Re8 50.Ra4[/font] gives White not just an extra pawn, but two passers.

47.Kg2!

• This is a good move, and not just because it's White's only legal move.

47...b6 48.Ra4 Rb1?

• Black is stronger on the queensidde and shoul preserve his pawns. In addition, time is an important dimension in chess, especially in the endgame. The text move allows the a-pawn to be taken with check.
• If [font color="red"]48...Re7 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Rg4+ Kf5 51.Rf4+ Kg6 52.Ra4[/font] leaves White no closer to his goal than before.

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

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[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 48...Re1b1[/center]

49.Rxa7+!

• We hope no one was expecting anything else.

49...Kf6 50.Rb7 Rxb3 51.Rxb6+

• White now has two extra pawns.

51...Kf5 52.Rb8 c4 53.Rc8 c3

• If [font color="red"]53...Rb4 54.b6 Kg4 55.Rc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]55...Kf5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]56.h4 Kg4 57.f3+ Kxh4 58.Kf2 Rb3 59.Rxc4+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]55...c3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]56.h3+ Kg5 57.Rc5+ Kh4 58.Rxc3 Rxb6 59.Rc4+.[/font]

54.b6 Rxb6 55.Rxc3 Rb4

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 55...Rb6b4[/center]

• The game is theoretically won for White. It's just a matter of technique from here.

56.h3 Rb1 57.Rg3 Rb4 58.Rg8

• White also makes progress after [font color="red"]58.Rf3+ Kg5 59.Kg3 Ra4 60.Rb3 Ra5 61.f4+.[/font]

58...Rb3

• If [font color="red"]58...Rc4 59.Kg3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]59...Rc3+ 60.f3 Rc1 61.Rg4 Rg1+ 62.Kf2 Rh1 63.h4[/font] inches forward.
• If [font color="darkred"]59...Rc1 60.Ra8 Rg1+ 61.Kf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]61...Rd1 62.Ra5+ Kg6 63.Kg3 Rg1+ 64.Kh2 Rc1 65.f4[/font] leaves White with a clear win.
• [font color="magenta"]61...Rh1 62.Ra5+ Kg6 63.Kg2 Rc1 64.f4[/font] is no different.

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 58...Rb4b3[/center]

59.h4!

• Inch by inch . . .

59...Kf6

• If [font color="red"]59...Rb4 60.Kg3 Rb3+ 61.f3 Rb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]62.Rg5+[/font] then after [font color="red"]62...Kf6 63.Kh2 Rb2+ 64.Rg2 Rb8 65.Rg5[/font] White wins by moving up the board, one step at a time.
• If [font color="darkred"]62.Rg4 Rg1+ 63.Kh3 Rb1 64.Kg2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]64...Kf6[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]65.Rg3 Rb2+ 66.Kh3 Kf5 67.h5[/font] the pawn keeps going.
• [font color="magenta"]64...Rb2+[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]65.Kg3 Rd2 66.h5 Rd6 67.Rh4.[/font]

60.f3 Rb4 61.Rg4 Rb2+

• Black may as well resign as exchange Rooks.

62.Kg3 Rb1

• If [font color="red"]62...Rb5 63.Rf4+ Kg7 64.Kg4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]64...Rb1 65.h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]65...Rg1+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]66.Kh4 Rh1+ 67.Kg5 Rh3 68.Kg4 Rh1 69.Rc4.[/font]
• [font color="magenta"]65...Rh1 66.Rb4 Rg1+ 67.Kh4 Rf1 68.Rb7+ Kh6 69.Rb6+[/font] allows the pawn to make further progress.
• [font color="darkred"]64...Kg6 65.Ra4 Kg7 66.Ra7+ Kh6 67.Ra6+ Kg7 68.f4[/font] leaves Black running out of room.

63.h5!

• White takes the opportunity to advance the pawn.

63...Rh1 64.Rh4 Rg1+ 65.Kf4 Rg8

• It makes no practical difference, of course, but more accurate is [font color="red"]65...Rg7 66.h6 Rh7 67.Kg4 Kf7 68.f4[/font] when Black blockades the pawn on the seventh rank instead of the back rank.

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 65...Rg8[/center]

66.h6!

• The White pawn takes another prescious step.

66...Rf8 67.Kg4 Rg8+ 68.Kh3 Rh8

• No better is [font color="red"]68...Kf5 69.h7 Rh8 70.Rh5+ Kf4 71.Kg2.[/font]

69.h7!
[center]

[/center]
69...Kg5 70.Kg3 Kf5 71.Rh5+

• The Rook also moves up the board, pushing the Black King back as it goes.

71...Kf6 72.Kf4 Kg6 73.Kg4 Kf6

• If [font color="red"]73...Rxh7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]74.Rxh7 Kxh7 75.Kg5 Kg7 76.f4.[/font]

74.Rh6+ Kf7 75.Kg5 Kg7

[center]BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Eric Hansen[/center][center]Position after 75...Kf7g7[/center]

76.Rg6+!

• This move has the elegance of a neat twist at the end of a good short story.

76...Kf7 77.Kh6 Ra8 78.Rg7+ 1-0

• There is no defense.
• Viktor Markovich resigns.